Incendies
Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:14:42 PM Wikipedia source
Incendies (French: [ɛ̃sɑ̃di] ; English: Fires) is a 2010 Canadian tragedy film directed by Denis Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Valérie Beaugrand-Champagne. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's play of the same name, Incendies stars Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, and Rémy Girard. The story concerns Canadian twins who travel to their mother's native country in the Levant to uncover her hidden past amidst a bloody civil war. While the country is unnamed, the events in the film are heavily influenced by the Lebanese Civil War and particularly the story of the prisoner Souha Bechara. The film was shot mainly in Montreal, with fifteen days spent in Jordan. It premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals in September 2010, and was released in Quebec on 17 September 2010. It met with widespread critical acclaim in Canada and abroad and won numerous awards. Since then it has been regarded as one of Villeneuve's finest works (with some considering it his best movie), one of the best movies of the 2010s and one of the greatest movies of the 21st century. In 2011, it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Incendies also won eight Genie Awards, including Best Motion Picture.
Infobox
Directed by
Denis Villeneuve
Screenplay by
mw- Denis VilleneuveValérie Beaugrand-Champagne
Based on
Incendiesby Wajdi Mouawad
Produced by
Luc DéryKim McCraw
Starring
Lubna Azabal Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin Maxim Gaudette Rémy Girard
Cinematography
André Turpin
Edited by
Monique Dartonne
Music by
Grégoire Hetzel
Productioncompany
micro_scope
Distributed by
Entertainment One
Release dates
3 September 2010 (2010-09-03) (Venice) 4 September 2010 (2010-09-04) (Telluride) 17 September 2010 (2010-09-17) (Canada)
Running time
130 minutes
Country
Canada
Languages
Arabic French
Budget
$6.5 million
Box office
$16 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Date of ceremony
27 February 2011
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Recipient(s)
Denis Villeneuve
Result
Nominated
Adelaide Film Festival
Adelaide Film Festival
Award
Adelaide Film Festival
Date of ceremony
March 2011
Category
International Award for Best Feature Film
Recipient(s)
Won
Atlantic Film Festival
Atlantic Film Festival
Award
Atlantic Film Festival
Date of ceremony
2010
Category
Best Canadian Feature
Recipient(s)
Won
Australian Film Critics Association
Australian Film Critics Association
Award
Australian Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
15 February 2012
Category
Best Overseas Film (Foreign Language)
Recipient(s)
Won
Boston Society of Film Critics
Boston Society of Film Critics
Award
Boston Society of Film Critics
Date of ceremony
11 December 2011
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Recipient(s)
Won
BAFTA Awards
BAFTA Awards
Award
BAFTA Awards
Date of ceremony
12 February 2012
Category
Film Not in the English Language
Recipient(s)
Nominated
César Awards
César Awards
Award
César Awards
Date of ceremony
24 February 2012
Category
Best Foreign Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association
Chicago Film Critics Association
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
19 December 2011
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
David di Donatello Awards
David di Donatello Awards
Award
David di Donatello Awards
Date of ceremony
2011
Category
Best Foreign Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Genie Awards
Genie Awards
Award
Genie Awards
Date of ceremony
10 March 2011
Category
Best Motion Picture
Recipient(s)
Luc Déry and Kim McCraw
Result
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Denis Villeneuve
Category
Won
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Date of ceremony
Lubna Azabal
Category
Won
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Award
Best Adapted Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Denis Villeneuve
Category
Won
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Date of ceremony
André-Line Beauparlant
Category
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Date of ceremony
André Turpin
Category
Won
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Date of ceremony
Monique Dartonne
Category
Won
Best Sound
Best Sound
Award
Best Sound
Date of ceremony
Jean Umansky and Jean-Pierre Laforce
Category
Won
Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Editing
Award
Best Sound Editing
Date of ceremony
Sylvain Bellemare, Simon Meilleur and Claire Pochon
Category
Won
Best Makeup
Best Makeup
Award
Best Makeup
Date of ceremony
Kathryn Casault
Category
Nominated
International Film Festival Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Award
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Date of ceremony
2011
Category
UPC Audience Award
Recipient(s)
Denis Villeneuve
Result
Won
Jutra Awards
Jutra Awards
Award
Jutra Awards
Date of ceremony
13 March 2011
Category
Best Film
Recipient(s)
Luc Déry, Kim McCraw and micro scope
Result
Won
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Date of ceremony
Denis Villeneuve
Category
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Won
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Date of ceremony
Lubna Azabal
Category
Won
Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin
Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin
Award
Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Date of ceremony
André-Line Beauparlant
Category
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Date of ceremony
André Turpin
Category
Won
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Date of ceremony
Monique Dartonne
Category
Won
Best Sound
Best Sound
Award
Best Sound
Date of ceremony
Sylvain Bellemare, Jean Umansky and Jean-Pierre Laforce
Category
Won
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Date of ceremony
Sophie Lefebvre
Category
Won
Lumière Awards
Lumière Awards
Award
Lumière Awards
Date of ceremony
13 January 2012
Category
Best French-Language Film
Recipient(s)
Denis Villeneuve
Result
Won
Magritte Awards
Magritte Awards
Award
Magritte Awards
Date of ceremony
4 February 2012
Category
Best Actress
Recipient(s)
Lubna Azabal
Result
Won
New York Film Critics Circle
New York Film Critics Circle
Award
New York Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
9 January 2012
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Recipient(s)
Denis Villeneuve
Result
Runner-up
Toronto Film Critics Association
Toronto Film Critics Association
Award
Toronto Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
14 December 2010
Category
Best Canadian Film
Recipient(s)
Won
Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
Award
Toronto International Film Festival
Date of ceremony
September 2010
Category
Best Canadian Feature Film
Recipient(s)
Won
Valladolid International Film Festival
Valladolid International Film Festival
Award
Valladolid International Film Festival
Date of ceremony
November 2010
Category
Audience Award
Recipient(s)
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Won
Youth Jury Award
Youth Jury Award
Award
Youth Jury Award
Date of ceremony
Won
Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Award
Vancouver Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
2011
Category
Best Canadian Film
Recipient(s)
Won
Best Director of a Canadian Film
Best Director of a Canadian Film
Award
Best Director of a Canadian Film
Date of ceremony
Won
Best Actress in a Canadian Film
Best Actress in a Canadian Film
Award
Best Actress in a Canadian Film
Date of ceremony
Lubna Azabal
Category
Won
Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film
Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film
Award
Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film
Date of ceremony
Maxim Gaudette
Category
Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film
Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film
Award
Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film
Date of ceremony
Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin
Category
Nominated
Vancouver International Film Festival
Vancouver International Film Festival
Award
Vancouver International Film Festival
Date of ceremony
2011
Category
Best Canadian Film
Recipient(s)
Denis Villeneuve
Result
Won
Vilnius International Film Festival
Vilnius International Film Festival
Award
Vilnius International Film Festival
Date of ceremony
March 2011
Category
The Audience Award
Recipient(s)
Won
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
| Academy Awards | 27 February 2011 | Best Foreign Language Film | Denis Villeneuve | Nominated | |
| Adelaide Film Festival | March 2011 | International Award for Best Feature Film | Won | ||
| Atlantic Film Festival | 2010 | Best Canadian Feature | Won | ||
| Australian Film Critics Association | 15 February 2012 | Best Overseas Film (Foreign Language) | Won | ||
| Boston Society of Film Critics | 11 December 2011 | Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||
| BAFTA Awards | 12 February 2012 | Film Not in the English Language | Nominated | ||
| César Awards | 24 February 2012 | Best Foreign Film | Nominated | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 19 December 2011 | Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | ||
| David di Donatello Awards | 2011 | Best Foreign Film | Nominated | ||
| Genie Awards | 10 March 2011 | Best Motion Picture | Luc Déry and Kim McCraw | Won | |
| Best Director | Denis Villeneuve | Won | |||
| Best Actress | Lubna Azabal | Won | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Denis Villeneuve | Won | |||
| Best Art Direction | André-Line Beauparlant | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | André Turpin | Won | |||
| Best Editing | Monique Dartonne | Won | |||
| Best Sound | Jean Umansky and Jean-Pierre Laforce | Won | |||
| Best Sound Editing | Sylvain Bellemare, Simon Meilleur and Claire Pochon | Won | |||
| Best Makeup | Kathryn Casault | Nominated | |||
| International Film Festival Rotterdam | 2011 | UPC Audience Award | Denis Villeneuve | Won | |
| Jutra Awards | 13 March 2011 | Best Film | Luc Déry, Kim McCraw and micro scope | Won | |
| Best Direction | Denis Villeneuve | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
| Best Actress | Lubna Azabal | Won | |||
| Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin | Nominated | ||||
| Best Art Direction | André-Line Beauparlant | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | André Turpin | Won | |||
| Best Editing | Monique Dartonne | Won | |||
| Best Sound | Sylvain Bellemare, Jean Umansky and Jean-Pierre Laforce | Won | |||
| Best Costume Design | Sophie Lefebvre | Won | |||
| Lumière Awards | 13 January 2012 | Best French-Language Film | Denis Villeneuve | Won | |
| Magritte Awards | 4 February 2012 | Best Actress | Lubna Azabal | Won | |
| New York Film Critics Circle | 9 January 2012 | Best Foreign Language Film | Denis Villeneuve | Runner-up | |
| Toronto Film Critics Association | 14 December 2010 | Best Canadian Film | Won | ||
| Toronto International Film Festival | September 2010 | Best Canadian Feature Film | Won | ||
| Valladolid International Film Festival | November 2010 | Audience Award | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay | Won | ||||
| Youth Jury Award | Won | ||||
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | 2011 | Best Canadian Film | Won | ||
| Best Director of a Canadian Film | Won | ||||
| Best Actress in a Canadian Film | Lubna Azabal | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film | Maxim Gaudette | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film | Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin | Nominated | |||
| Vancouver International Film Festival | 2011 | Best Canadian Film | Denis Villeneuve | Won | |
| Vilnius International Film Festival | March 2011 | The Audience Award | Won |
References
- La Pressehttp://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/cinema-quebecois/plus-de-nouvelles/201207/17/01-4551137-les-coulisses-dincendies-plonger-dans-le-decor.php
- "Incendies"https://web.archive.org/web/20180717173200/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/incendies-video
- Montreal Gazette
- The Numbershttps://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Incendies#tab=box-office
- The Daily Starhttp://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Film/Feb/02/Seeing-yourself-re-made-as-fiction.ashx#axzz1bmmQmXor
- La Pressehttp://www.lapresse.ca/international/moyen-orient/200903/08/01-834313-lex-kamikaze-soha-bechara-denonce-le-sort-des-palestiniens.php
- Résistantehttp://www.mediationsjournal.org/articles/antigone-becomes-jocasta
- "Denis is on Fire"http://www.nowtoronto.com/movies/story.cfm?content=178802
- The Globe and Mailhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/will-denis-villeneuves-incendies-light-a-fire-under-oscar/article1873366/page2/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2011/02/oscars-2011-incendies-director-denis-villeneuve-243620/
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/8581916/Incendies-Universal-tragedy-with-fire-in-its-heart.html
- The Toronto Starhttps://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2011/02/24/author_of_incendies_the_play_praises_movie_version.html
- CTV Newshttps://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/denis-villeneuves-incendies-nominated-for-best-foreign-film/
- British Film Institutehttps://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/interviews/blood-lines-denis-villeneuve-incendies
- "Lubna Azabal"https://people.orange.fr/star/lubna-azabal-CNT00000051bmT/
- Montreal Gazettehttps://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/how-incendies-changed-melissa-desormeaux-poulins-life
- The Globe and Mailhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/awards-and-festivals/allen-altman-gets-fired-up-about-oscar-nominated-incendies/article568162/
- La Pressehttp://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/cinema-quebecois/plus-de-nouvelles/201207/17/01-4551140-incendies-parfum-de-guerre.php
- https://journalmetro.com/culture/17562/incendies-apprivoiser-la-colere/https://journalmetro.com/culture/17562/incendies-apprivoiser-la-colere/
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/incendies-filmmaker-takes-on-war-in-a-fictional-but-very-real-middle-east/2011/04/18/AFGPco3G_story.html
- WhatSonghttps://www.what-song.com/Movies/Soundtrack/102644/Incendies
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2011/04/review-until-its-bitter-end-incendies-is-a-moving-wartime-drama-242855/
- NPRhttps://www.npr.org/2011/04/22/135541389/a-heartbreaking-work-of-staggering-horror
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-apr-17-la-ca-denis-villenueve-20110417-story.html
- Bright Lights Film Journalhttps://brightlightsfilm.com/burning-the-candle-at-both-ends-denis-villeneuves-incendies-2010/
- The Dissolvehttps://web.archive.org/web/20220126213118/https://thedissolve.com/features/exposition/669-radioheads-motion-picture-soundtracks/
- Purple Sneakershttps://www.purplesneakers.com.au/2012/02/top-10-music-moments-in-film/
- "Incendies"http://www.sonyclassics.com/incendies/presskit.pdf
- Pat Mullen, "Oscar Winning Doc Leads List of Restored Canadian Classics". Point of View, 9 May 2023.https://povmagazine.com/oscar-winning-doc-leads-list-of-restored-canadian-classics/
- Telefilm Canadahttps://web.archive.org/web/20160920131015/http://www.telefilm.ca/en/news/whats-new/2010/10/05/incendies-passes-1m-mark-canadian-box-office
- Playbackhttp://playbackonline.ca/2011/05/03/hot-sheet-top-5-canadian-films-april-23-april-29-2011/#ixzz4GaY5UrGI
- Box Office Mojohttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=incendies.htm
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/incendies
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/incendies
- Montreal Film Journalhttp://www.montrealfilmjournal.com/review.asp?R=R0001386
- Montreal Gazette
- La Pressehttp://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/201207/23/49-1604-incendies.php
- The Toronto Starhttps://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2011/01/20/movie_review_villeneuves_incendies_a_masterful_film.html
- CBC Newshttps://web.archive.org/web/20160612172352/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/review-incendies-1.957115
- Incendies
- Quebec Studieshttps://doi.org/10.3828%2Fqs.2013.3
- Rogerebert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/incendies-2011
- CTV Newshttps://web.archive.org/web/20120119030959/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20110211/Film-Incendies-110211/20110211?s_name=oscars2011
- Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide
- The Boston Globehttp://archive.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2011/05/13/a_womans_last_request_leads_to_disturbing_truth_in_incendies/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/movies/awardsseason/2011-films-melancholia-tree-of-life-moneyball.html?emc=eta
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-apr-22-la-et-incendies-20110422-story.html
- La Pressehttp://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/nouvelles/201207/17/01-4548309-incendies-se-souvenir-des-cendres.php
- NPRhttps://www.npr.org/2011/04/22/135541389/a-heartbreaking-work-of-staggering-horror
- Incendies
- Incendieshttps://web.archive.org/web/20101001054603/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i164dab495458bd2bb6e4fc7db250065e
- Incendieshttps://web.archive.org/web/20110122034715/http://moncinema.cyberpresse.ca/nouvelles-et-critiques/nouvelles/nouvelle-cinema/13713-iIncendiesi-parmi-les-neuf-films-prslectionns-aux-Oscars.html
- oscars.orghttp://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2011/20110119.html
- The Globe and Mailhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/awards/villeneuves-incendies-wins-eight-genies-including-best-picture/article1937826/
- "Incendies best Canadian film: Toronto critics"https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/incendies-best-canadian-film-toronto-critics-1.1072930
- CBC Artshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/incendies-best-canadian-film-toronto-critics-1.1072930#:~:text=Incendies%20was%20named%20best%20Canadian%20feature%20film%20at,first%20filmmaker%20to%20win%20twice%20in%20a%20row.
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/readers-movies-21st-century.html
- "Incendies"http://oscar.go.com/nominations/category/foreign-language-film/synopsis/incendies/688794
- "Incendies wins 10 Evening News International Award for Best Feature Film"https://web.archive.org/web/20120320012932/http://www.adelaidefilmfestival.org/archives/2011/www.adelaidefilmfestival.org/news-28747.asp.html
- "AFCA 2012 Writing & Film Award Winners"https://web.archive.org/web/20171122102005/http://www.afca.org.au/afca-2012-writing--film-awards.html
- Boston Society of Film Criticshttps://web.archive.org/web/20141008041238/http://www.bostonfilmcritics.org/content/past-award-winners
- "Film in 2012"http://awards.bafta.org/award/2012/film?
- Le Devoirhttps://www.ledevoir.com/culture/cinema/341195/le-film-incendies-est-finaliste-pour-un-cesar
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2011/12/the-tree-of-life-leads-chicago-critics-awards-50467/
- Yahoo!https://www.yahoo.com/tv/italys-davide-di-donatello-nominations-announced-104509488.html
- CBC Newshttps://web.archive.org/web/20160815093108/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/incendies-barney-s-version-dominate-genies-1.1078773
- Filmfestivals.comhttp://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/international_film_festival_rotterdam/incendies_is_rotterdam_2011_audiences_favourite_340000_visits_to_anniversary_edition
- CBC Newshttp://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/incendies-sweeps-jutra-awards-1.1076841
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/the-artist-lumiere-awards-281420
- Le Journal de Montréalhttp://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/02/05/incendies-recompense-aux-magritte
- Timehttps://entertainment.time.com/2011/11/29/new-york-film-critics-cant-wait-to-give-its-top-prizes-to-the-artist/
- Incendieshttps://web.archive.org/web/20110121112821/http://torontofilmcritics.com/blog/?p=52
- "Le film Incendies de Denis Villeneuve remporte trois prix à la Semaine du cinéma international de Valladolid"https://www.actualites.uqam.ca/2010/film-incendies-denis-villeneuve-remporte-trois-prix-semaine-cinema-international-valladolid
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/2011/01/social-network-incendies-leads-vancouver-critics-awards-243944/
- CBC Newshttp://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/incendies-best-canadian-film-toronto-critics-1.1072930
- "Incendies"http://www.sevilleinternational.com/film/incendies-2/