#FIRSTLOOK: “MONTRÉAL, MY BEAUTIFUL” WINS 2025 WIFF PRIZE

The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) is pleased to announce that the winner of the prestigious WIFF Prize in Canadian Film this year is Montreal, My Beautiful (Montréal, ma belle), directed by Xiaodan He. The announcement was made at a private reception on Sunday, October 26 with representatives of the nominated films, jury members, and guests in attendance. Celebrating outstanding achievement in Canadian cinema, the prize carries a cash value of $25,000 and is awarded to the director of the film.

The winner was selected by a jury of industry experts; Charles Tremblay, Head of Market, TIFF; Chelsea McMullen, filmmaker; Manon Dumais, journalist, La Presse; Paul Barkin, producer; and Tanya Mason, Director of Theatrical and Digital Sales, Photon Films and Media. All 10 nominated films were screened during WIFF’s opening weekend.

“From the first scene, where a mother must rely on her daughter to translate the most vulnerable details of her own body, to its devastatingly elegant finale where she reclaims her voice, this film unfolds with a quiet confidence and emotional clarity that took our breath away,” said the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film jury. “Joan Chen gives a performance of extraordinary restraint and depth, embodying a woman whose complexity feels utterly lived in. With tenderness, humour, and fearless honesty, the film offers a love story that feels both timeless and new — one that resists familiar tropes in its portrayals of race, gender, and the immigrant experience. It is with great admiration and heartfelt appreciation that we present this award to Montreal, My Beautiful.”

“We are thrilled for Xiaodan He. Her film Montreal, My Beautiful is a heartfelt exploration of identity, culture, and human connection,” said Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer of WIFF. “This award celebrates not only Xiaodan’s exceptional talent but also the vitality of Canadian cinema that continues to inspire audiences everywhere.”

The other WIFF Prize nominees were Compulsive Liar 2 (Menteuse), directed by Émile Gaudreault; The Cost Of Heaven (Gagne ton ciel), directed by Mathieu Denis; In Cold Light, directed by Maxime Giroux; Lovely Day (Mille secrets mille dangers), directed by Philippe Falardeau; Peak Everything (Amour apocalypse), directed by Anne Émond; The Pitch, directed by Michèle Hozer, Shamed; directed by Matt Gallagher, Two Women (Deux femmes en or) directed by Chloé Robichaud; and Where Souls Go (Où vont les âmes?), directed by Brigitte Poupart.

Past recipients of the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film include Who Do I Belong To directed by Meryam Joobeur, 2024; Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person directed by Ariane Louis-Seize, 2023; Riceboy Sleeps directed by Anthony Shim, 2022; and Kuessipan directed by Myriam Verreault, 2019.

WIFF is a cultural, charitable organization that celebrates the art of cinema by showcasing Canadian and international film and filmmakers. Delivering exceptional experiences through film, WIFF strengthens and enriches the community while promoting the creative economy. windsorfilmfestival.com.

The 2025 festival is proudly presented by the Toldo Foundation.

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