Philippe Lesage

Philippe Lesage, a talented Canadian film director and screenwriter, hails from Quebec. His journey in the film industry began with documentary filmmaking, but he transitioned into narrative features in the 2010s, creating notable works such as Copenhague: A Love Story, The Demons (Les Démons), and Genesis (Genèse).

Born on August twentieth, nineteen seventy-seven, in Saint-Agapit, Quebec, Lesage was raised in Longueuil and Montreal. He pursued his education at McGill University and the European Film College, where he honed his skills in storytelling. His first documentary, Pourrons-nous vivre ensemble?, debuted in two thousand six, earning him recognition in the industry.

Lesage's film The Demons premiered at the prestigious San Sebastian International Film Festival, where it was featured in Official Competition. The film garnered acclaim, being showcased in over seventy festivals worldwide and winning multiple awards, including the Golden Gate New Director Prize at the San Francisco International Film Festival in two thousand sixteen.

In two thousand eighteen, he directed Genesis, which premiered at the Locarno Festival and received numerous accolades, including Best Film and Best Director at Seminci in Valladolid, Spain. His latest project, Who by Fire (Comme le feu), was selected for the Generation 14plus section at the seventy-fourth Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix of the International Jury of Generation.

Beyond filmmaking, Lesage has shared his expertise by teaching documentary filmmaking at the European Film College during two thousand eight to two thousand nine. He comes from a family of filmmakers, with his brother Jean-François Lesage also making his mark in the industry.