We're thrilled to announce that the winner of the 2023 WIFF Prize in Canadian Film is HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON!
— WIFF (@WindsorFilmFest) October 29, 2023
Read more of the announcement: https://t.co/VRp49cWMcz pic.twitter.com/WP8gutCr1T
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person | Vampire humaniste cherche suicidaire consentant might have surprised a few people by winning the 2023 WIFF Prize in Canadian film at the 2023 Windsor International Film Festival. The jury, like your humble narrator, saw all 10 films. The subject matter might be a bit daunting, but this film handled the subject matter in a meaningful way. The vampire story was all too human on a few levels.
The $25,000 prize goes to director Ariane Louis-Seize, who also co-wrote the film with Christine Doyon.
Sara Montpetit is wonderful as Sasha, a very complicated vampire. You might remember Montpetit from Falcon Lake, where she received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Film, as well as Maria Chapdelaine.
Félix-Antoine Bénard is very good as Paul, the young suicidal boy. The film also features Steve Laplante and Patrick Hivon, who played brothers in Babysitter from WIFF 22.
"We are proud to give the WIFF Canadian film prize to a film notable for its skillful and inventive approach to genre (well several genres really), its stellar lead performance, its beautifully downbeat comic tone and distinctive directorial touch," said jury president Steve Gravestock in a press release. "The jury was deeply impressed by the quality of all the films selected and wanted to thank the festival and the city of Windsor for showing us such a great time."
Dealing with films about suicide that could be triggering
Here is a full list of all 10 films in nomination along with their directors:
Blackberry (Matt Johnson)
The Dishwasher (Francis Leclerc)
Frontiers (Guy Édoin)
Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicidal Person (Ariane Louis-Seize)
Irena's Vow (Louise Archambault)
My Mother's Men (Anik Jean)
The Nature Of Love (Monia Chokri)
One Summer (Louise Archambault)
Seven Veils (Atom Egoyan)
Solo (Sophie Dupuis)
Louise Archambault had a 20% chance to win because she had 2 films on the list. Seven Veils, Irena's Vow, and BlackBerry have crossover potential. Every film except for Solo was pretty good to rather good. Frontiers and My Mother's Men were pleasant surprises.
"It's been an exciting weekend of celebrating Canadian film and filmmakers. Our audiences have fully embraced this year's nominees," said Vincent Georgie, executive director and chief programmer of WIFF, in a press release. "We're thrilled to be celebrating Ariane Louis-Seize's Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person as the 2023 winner of the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film. Ariane's film is a refreshing, subversive and very well-cast film that is both risky and memorable."
The jury members are Steve Gravestock, former senior international programmer, TIFF; Apple TV programming lead Kerri Craddock; filmmaker Maxime Giroux; film critic Peter Howell, who is a member of the Critics Choice Association; and filmmaker Tiffany Hsiung.
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The 10 Canadian films were shown on October 27-28 at the 2023 Windsor International Film Festival.
We will have much more on the festival and Canadian films in our wrapup next month. The festival runs through November 5.
Twitter capture: @WindsorFilmFest
photo credit: Windsor International Film Festival
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