Photo credit : Ève Lavoie

Jean-François Leblanc

Director | Screenwriter

Originally from Quebec, Jean-François obtained his degree in Cinematographic Studies from the University of Montreal in 2007. He wrote and then directed the short films L’ENFARGÉE, 12 HOMMES EN TABARNAK and ORDINAIRES, which toured several festivals worldwide. Jean-François moved on to web series with the writing and production of LE POOL, a series of 24 episodes which will span three seasons. In 2015, he wrote and directed LE GARS D’LA SHOP, which, in addition to having its world premiere at TIFF, won three awards at the Gala Prends Ça Court and was selected for more than 20 international festivals. He returned to the web in 2018 as the director of L’ARÈNE which won the Best Webseries at the Larochelle Fiction Festival and competed for the best digital series at the Canneseries and Gémeaux Awards. In 2020, CONNEXION EN COURS won the Best Cultural Diversity Web-Series Toronto Webfest award and a nomination for the 35th Gémeaux Award Best Web-Series, Comedy. His fascination with spoken language, masculinity and likelihood is at the centre of his artistic approach, which stands out for the frequent use of improvisation. Like the short film LE PRINCE DE VAL-BÉ (2019), his most recent short film LANDGRAVES (2020) has already had a run at significant Festivals and the film has won numerous awards including the prestigious TIFF Avrich Award given to 10 promising filmmakers, according to the festival team, Best Director at the Festival Off Courts Trouville, in addition to Prends Ça Court, Macabro and Fantasia. In 2023, Jean-François presented his short film VIRGA to the public.

Jean-François will present his first feature film, the big-screen adaptation of Samuel Cantin’s comic strip VIL & MISÉRABLE, premiering at Cinémania on November 13, 2024 and in theaters on February 7, 2025.

Filmography

Vil et Misérable

In theaters February 7, 2025

Feature film (adaptation of Vil et Misérable published by Pow Pow)
Director and coscreenwriter with Samuel Cantin
Vlimeuses Production
*The film will premiere at CINÉMANIA on November 13, 2024
*The film will be in theatres on February 7, 2025

Awards

* Harold Greenberg Fund
* Telefilm Canada financing (production)
* Acquisition Crave, Bell Canada, Diffuseur Exclusif (Broadcaster)
* Funding from SODEC - Aide à la scénarisation - Jeunes Créateurs
* Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec grant
* Telefilm Canada grant (development)
FESTIVALS
Premiere at the Cinémania 2024 Francophone Film Festival

Virga

2023

Short film
Director | Screenwriter Charles Dionne
Producer Geneviève Gosselin | Travelling Distribution

Awards

Gala Prends ça court! Prix Art et essai
FESTIVALS
Festival Regard, Canada (Québec) | 2023 |
Plein(s) Écran(s) 2024 | Section official competition
Festival de cinéma de la ville de Québec | Part of the program Vil magnétisme : Le cinéma de Jean-François Leblanc | 2023
Fantasia 2023 | Montreal premiere | Les fantastiques week-ends du cinéma québécois

Le Larron

In development

Feature film
Director | Written by Alexandre Auger
Ô Films

Un Statut

In development

Short film
Director | Co-written with Samuel Cantin
Colonelle Films
*Harold Greenberg Option Grant * Grant from the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec * Telefilm Canada grant * SODEC funding - Scriptwriting assistance - Young Creators

LANDGRAVES

2020

Short film written by Alexandre Auger | HD
Director, associated producer with Couronne Nord
*Sodec Funding

Awards

Vimeo's Staff Pick (2021)
Achat Bloody Disgusting TV (US), 2021
TIFF Avrich Award 2020 - delivered to ten promising filmmakers according to the festival team
Award – Best Short Film - Festival Cinémania, 2020
Award – Best film - Fantasia International Film Festival, 2020
Award – Best director - Brooklyn Horror Film Festival
Award – Best screenplay - HorrorFest International
Quebec Public Award - Plein(s) Écran(s)
Best supporting actor (Pierre-Luc Brillant) - Nightmares Film Festival
Best emerging producer - Fantasia International Film Festival
PRIXBest direction - Festival Off Courts Trouville 2020
Grand Price H264 - Gala Prends Ça Court 2020
SODEC Award – Gala Prends Ça Court 2020
Trou du Diable Award - Gala Prends Ça Court 2020
SLA Location Award – Gala Prends Ça Court 2020
Ottoblix Award - Gala Prends Ça Court 2020
Best film - Fantasia International Film Festival 2020
MENTION Best international short film - Macabro International Film Festival
FESTIVALS
Haapsalu Õudus- ja Fantaasiafilmide Festival - Official selection Little Nightmares program, 2021 (Estonia)
Uppsala International Short Film Festival, October 2020 (Uppsala, Sweden)
Prague Short Film Festival (Karlovy Vary), March 2021 (Prague, Czech Republic)
Thess International Short Film Festival, October 2020 (Thess, Greece)
Off-Courts Trouville, September 2020 (Trouville-sur-mer, France)
Macabro International Film Festival, August 2020 (Mexico City, Mexico)
Nightstream - Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, October 2020 (Brooklyn, US)
Nightmares Film Festival, October 2020 (Columbus, US)
Regard sur le court métrage, March 2020 (Chicoutimi, Canada)
Purchase of license Shorts TV, Chaine télé US, 2021
Purchase of license TV5/Unis, 2021
Purchase of license Alter/Dust (US), 2021
Grossman Fantastic Film and Wine Festival, July 2020 (Ljutomer, Slovenia)
Fantasia International Film Festival, August 2020 (Montréal, Canada)
Ravenheart International Film Festival, August 2020 (Oslo, Norway)
DC Shorts International Film Festival, September 2020 (Washington, US)
Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival, September 2020 (Sudbury, Canada)
Blacksphere Festival, September 2020 (Prague, Czech Republic)
HorrorFest International, October 2020 (Utah, US)
Festival du Cinéma International en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, November 2020 (R-Noranda, Canada)
Blood in the Snow, November 2020 (Toronto, Canada)
Sound Unseen, November 2020 (Minneapolis, US)
Festival Cinémania, November 2020 (Montréal, Canada)
Festival International du Cinéma Francophone en Acadie, November 2020 (Moncton, Canada)
Festival Images en vues, November 2020, (Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Canada)
Soho Horror Film Festival, December 2020 (Londres, UK)
Plein(s) Écran(s), January 2021 (Montréal, Canada)
Film Maudit 2.0, January 2021 (Santa Monica, US)
Cinéma on the Bayou, January 2021 (Lafayette, US)
Nevermore Film Festival, February 2021 (Caroline du Nord, US)
Les Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois et francophone, February 2021 (Vancouver, Canada)
Cine-Maniacs Filmfest, March 2021 (Turkheim, Germany)
Les Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma, April 2021 (Montréal, Canada)
Dawson City International Short Film Festival, April 2021 (Dawson City, Canada)
Les Percéides, August 2021 (Percé, Canada)

Le Prince de Val-Bé

2019

Short film | HD
Screenwriter, director and assiocated producer
Colonelle Films
*Grant from the Conseil des Arts et Lettres of Quebec

Awards

Best picture - Fantasia International Film Festival
FESTIVALS
Regard sur le court métrage, 2019 (Chicoutimi, Canada)
Seattle International Film Festival, 2019 (Seattle, USA)
Fantasia International Film Festival, 2019 (Montréal, Canada)
Les Percéides, 2019 (Percé, Canada)
Festival de Cinéma de la Ville de Québec, 2019 (Québec, Canada)
Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, 2019 (Sudbury, Canada)
Plein(s) Écran(s), 2020 (Québec, Canada) *** Opening Film
Cinéma on the Bayou, 2020 (Lafayette, USA)
Les Rendez-Vous du Cinéma Québécois, 2020 (Montréal, Canada)
Flicker's Roving Eye International Film Festival, 2020 (Rhode Island, USA)
Tout Court Bologne, 2020 (Italia)
SENE Film, Music, & Amp; Arts Festival, 2020 (Rhode Island, USA)
Prends ça court! Official Selection – Montréal, 2020

Le Gars d'la Shop

2015

Short film | 16MM | 15 minutes
Screenwriter, director
Colonelle Films

Awards

Roméo et Fils Award - Gala Prends Ça Court 2016
Best male role (Serge Boulianne) - Gala Prends Ça Court 2016
Special jury mention (Best film) – Gala Prends Ça Court 2016
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), 2015 (Toronto, Canada)
Festival International du Cinéma Francophone en Acadie, 2015 (Moncton, Canada)
Cinema on the Bayou, 2016 (Lafayette, USA)
Les Rendez-Vous du Cinéma Québécois et Francophone, 2016 (Vancouver, Canada)
Les Rendez-Vous du Cinéma Québécois 2016, 2016 (Montréal, Canada)
Kingston Canadian Film Festival, 2016 (Kingston, Canada)
BFI Flare – London LGBT Film Festival, 2015 (London,UK)
Festival Vues d’en face, 2016 (Grenoble, France)
Short N Sweet Session no 11– Centre Culturel Canadien, 2016 (Paris, France)
Norwegian Short Film Festival, 2016 (Grimstad, Norway)
Palm Springs International Shortfest, 2016 (Palm Springs, USA)
Rio Gender and Sexuality Film Cinema Festival, 2016 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Queer Lisboa, 2016 (Lisboa, Portugal)
Festival de Cinéma de la Ville de Québec, 2016 (Québec, Canada)
Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur, Octobre 2016 (Namur, Belgium)
Holebi Film Festival, 2016 (Louvain, Belgium)
Image+Nation Film Festival, 2016 (Montréal, Québec)
Diffusion - Tou.tv

Ordinaires

2013

Short documentary essay | HD | 15 minutes
Screenwriter, director, producer, editor, cameraman, sound designer
La Garnotte

Awards

Official selection of SODEC
International Short Film Festival Market (official selection), Clermont Ferrand 2013
Regard sur le Court Métrage au Saguenay, 2013

12 Hommes en Tabarnak

2011

Short film | HD | 12 minutes
Screenwriter, director, producer, actor
La Garnotte

Awards

McAulsan Award 2012 at the Gala Prends Ça Court! (RVCQ 2012)
Public Choice Award - Tourner À Tout Prix (Regard 2012)
Purchased by Canal Plus (France) 2012 (national diffusion)
Presented at 7 festivals (Raindance, Regard, FCVQ, RVCQ, Fantasia, Abitibi, Juste pour rire)

L’Enfargée

2010

Short film | HD | 26 minutes
Screenwriter, director, producer, editor
La Garnotte

L’Humain

2007

Short film | 16mm | 10 minutes
Screenwriter, director, editor assistant

Awards

Purchased by Mange ta ville, ARTV, Émission Provocation
Short film of the year at the St-Sulpice's projections, 2008
Presented at 5 festivals (Trouville, FFM, Images en Vues, Young Cuts, Micro-Cinéma)

Avril sur Mars

In development

TV series written by Marie-Josée Ouellet and Raphaël Codebecq
Director
Toast Média

Les Furies

In development

TV series | 6 x 60min
Director and co-screenwriter with Marc-Antoine Rioux
Trio Orange

Pour Andreas

In development

Webseries | 6 x 10 min
Director and screenwriter
Ô Films

L'Arène (season 2)

2021

Webseries written by Marjorie Armstrong | HD | 6 X 10 minutes
Director
Nitrofilms | Babel films

Awards

36e Prix Gémeaux - Nomination Best direction, 2021

Connexion en cours - Season 2

2020

Webseries written by Mani Soleymanlou | HD | 35 X 3 Minutes
Director
TV5 Québec Canada | TV5 Monde | TV5Unis.ca
* Canada Media Fund

Awards

Toronto Webfest - Best webseries for the cultural diversity
Nominated for the 35th Gémeaux Award - Best webseries, comedy
FESTIVALS
Toronto WebFest - Toronto 2020
Melbourne WebFest - Austalia 2020

L'Arène

2018

Webseries written by Marjorie Armstrong | HD | 6 X 10 minutes
Director
Nitrofilms

Awards

Best webseries - Festival de la Fiction (La Rochelle, France) 2018
Nomination : Best web series - Gémeaux Awards 2018
Canneseries Digital Competition, Canneseries, (Cannes, France) 2018

Hubert et Fanny - Web Content

2018

Web capsule | HD | 23 X 2 minutes
Director, creator
Sphère Média Plus | Ici Tou.tv

Awards

Gémeaux Awards for Best Numeric Content, 2018

Ma première fois...Au Cinéma! Season 1 et 2

2017-2018

Web capsule | HD | 30 X 1m30
Creator, director
Couronne Nord

Awards

Gémeaux Awards - Nomination for best webseries, 2018

LOS - Wonders

2016

Videoclip web | HD | 4 minutes 10 secondes
Screenwriter, director
Colonelle films

7 Heures

2015

Webseries written by Jean-François Leblanc and directed by Jean-Christophe J. Lamontagne | HD | 6 X 5 minutes
Screenwriter, creator
Jimmy Lee

Awards

NOMINATIONS
Best series - Webfest Montréal 2016
Best male interpretation (Guy Richer)- Gémeaux Awards 2016

Le Cas – Le Pilote

2015

TV game directed by Jean-François Blais | HD | 60 minutes
Creator, screenwriter
Canoe | TVA Productions

Dans la Bulle de Prise 2

2014

TV variety program directed by Pierre Ouimet, HD, 12 X 22 minutes
Creator and screenwriter
Prise 2 | TVA Productions

Dans la Bulle de Prise 2

2014

Webserie created by Jean-François Leblanc, HD, 22 X 3 minutes
Screenwriter, director
Prise 2 | TVA Productions

Le Pool – Season 1 at 3

2012-2014

Webseries, HD, 24 X 10 minutes
Screenwriter, director, producer
Jessie Films | Z Télé & LibTV

Awards

Nomination - Best Actor (Guillaume Girard) - Gémeaux Awards 2015

Patrice Michaud - À qui l'aura

2020

Videoclip | 5min
Scrennwriter and director | Parce Que Films & Maison Fauve

Gouin Ouest avec Mehdi Bousaidan

2017-2018

Web ads, 6 X 90s
Director
La Guérilla

Journées de la Persévérance Scolaire

2017

TV ad, 15s
Creator, screenwriter, director

Prêt à Rabais

2017

TV ads, 2 X 15s
Creator, screenwriter, director
La Guérilla

Vincent d'Amérique

2016

TV & Web ad, 30s
Screenwriter, director
Colonelle films

Fondation Jean Lapointe

2016

Web capsule, 1m15s
Creator, screenwriter, director
La Guérilla

Stafbox

2016

Web ads, Colonelle films, 2 X 40s
Creator, screewriter, director

TIFF - Avrich Award - Awarded to the 10 most promising Canadian filmmakers | 2020

Filmmaker/Trainer - One month at Rapid Lake| Wapikoni Mobile - 2017
Development designer (TV and other platforms) | Québécor Content - 2011-2017

Musée Grévin - Exhibition Les coulisses de l'animation | Design, direction - 2018
Air Canada enRoute Film Festival | Speaker - 2015

2007

Bachelor in Film Studies | University of Montréal - 2007