Jour2Fête has taken French distribution rights to interval dramedy “La Portraitiste,” directed by Annie St-Pierre and written by Florence Longpré, who additionally stars within the movie. The deal was signed in Cannes with H264, a Montreal-based worldwide gross sales firm.
Longpré, an actress in addition to a author, first got here to public consideration with “Like-Moi!” within the function of Gaby Gravel, and later made a robust impression with “Can You Hear Me?” (M’entends-tu?) and “Audrey’s Back” (Audrey est income), two critically acclaimed sequence, on which she additionally collaborated as a screenwriter. She can also be the co-screenwriter of “Le temps des framboises.”
In 2025, Longpré unveiled “Empathy” (Empathie), a sequence she wrote and starred in. It received the Viewers Award at Séries Mania previous to its broadcast on Canal+, with a second season in improvement.
St-Pierre directed the documentaries “Fermières” and “Le plein potentiel,” the latter chosen at SXSW in 2025. Her quick movie “Like the Ones I Used to Know” (Les grandes claques) premiered at Sundance and was shortlisted for the Academy Awards in 2021 within the live-action quick movie class.
“We are huge fans of the series ‘Empathie’ and of Florence Longpré’s work, and we are thrilled to distribute ‘La Portraitiste,’ Annie St-Pierre’s first fiction feature following her remarkable short film. Working with Florence, who will star in the film and co-wrote this beautiful screenplay, is something we are incredibly excited about,” stated Sarah Chazelle, president and founding father of Jour2fête.
“Jour2Fête is an essential partner in France. Their confidence in ‘La Portraitiste’ is incredibly exciting for us. Following the success of ‘Empathie’ in France, we are thrilled that the film will receive a release worthy of its potential,” stated Jean-Christophe J. Lamontagne, co-president of H264.
“La Portraitiste,” which is at present filming in Quebec, is produced by Roger Frappier, nominated on the Oscars for “The Power of the Dog” by Jane Campion, with Sylvie Lacoste and Véronika Molnar.
It’s a interval dramedy with touches of magical realism, set in Montreal in 1962. It follows Françoise, who leads a stifling life, dictated by her husband Germain and sanctioned by her aunt Agathe. Françoise is a receptionist on the native police station, the place her beloved cousin Gilles patrols, and is unexpectedly requested to sketch the composite of an assailant.
The expertise rekindles her ardour for drawing and instantly reveals the contours of her telepathic reward. Françoise’s prophetic instinct attracts her into an investigation alongside Sergeant Stevenson, the place long-buried household secrets and techniques echo her personal previous.
Carried by a burgeoning love and the invention of her reward, Françoise comes to know that each quest inevitably leads again to oneself.
