Montreal, My Beautiful
(Montréal, ma belle)
a film by Xiaodan He
Opens in Theatres Across Canada
February 13, 2026
AWARDS & HONOURS
WIFF Prize in Canadian Film, Windsor International Film Festival Awarded to Montreal, My Beautiful and writer director Xiaodan He
RBC Best Canadian Feature Film, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
Jay Scott Prize for an Emerging Artist, Toronto Film Critics Association Awarded to writer director Xiaodan He
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Canadian Film, Toronto Film Critics Association Joan Chen, Montreal, My Beautiful
Outstanding Feature Film Actress, Reelworld Film Festival + Summit Joan Chen, Montreal, My Beautiful
Runner-Up, Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Canadian Film, Toronto Film Critics Association Charlotte Aubin, Montreal, My Beautiful
PRESS RELEASE
Montreal, My Beautiful, the emotionally sweeping drama from filmmaker Xiaodan He, opens in theatres across Canada beginning February 13 with distribution by Filmoption International.
Led by Joan Chen (The Last Emperor, Twin Peaks, Lust, Caution) the film tells the story of Feng Xia, a 53-year-old Chinese Canadian immigrant and mother living in Montreal whose life of quiet duty is upended when she meets Camille, a spirited young Québécoise. What begins as a chance encounter becomes a life-altering journey, exploring desire, identity, and the courage it takes to claim one’s own path.
The film has already garnered critical acclaim on the festival circuit and from Canadian critics:
Toronto Film Critics Association Award Chen, ‘Outstanding Lead Performance in a Canadian Film’; Outstanding Feature Film Actress for Chen at the Reelworld Film Festival + Summit in Toronto; Best Canadian Film at the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), selected from a strong Canadian field; RBC Best Canadian Film Award at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. 
“The story at the heart of Montreal, My Beautiful is one about the quiet revolutions that happen within us,” says director Xiaodan He. “Joan Chen brings such depth, grace, and truth to Feng Xia, and audiences across Canada are going to feel every heartbeat of this film.”
Chen’s performance, which has drawn praise for its emotional intelligence and nuanced vulnerability, cements her reputation as one of cinema’s most enduring and compelling performers.
About Xiaodan He
Xiaodan He, a Montreal based Chinese-Canadien filmmaker, studied film production at the Beijing Film Academy of China. In 2002, she immigrated to Canada. In 2013, she founded Red Dawn Productions, five feature projects, fiction and documentary, were financed by the institutions for their development or production. Xiaodan’s main work include The Dance of the Star (fiction, 80 min), Cairo Calling (fiction, 10 min), The Fall of Womenland (documentary, 50 min), A Touch of Spring (feature , 82 min) and My Father’s Journey (documentary, 78 min). Xiaodan is the first Chinese immigrant director and producer who has received governmental grants in Quebec and in Canada for a feature film.
About Filmoption International
With more than four decades of experience, Filmoption International is one of Canada’s leading film distribution companies and a respected international sales agent. The company represents a carefully curated slate of feature films and documentaries, guiding their theatrical and international journeys with a strong emphasis on quality, audience connection, and long-term cultural impact. Filmoption International continues to play a vital role in championing bold, original cinema and ensuring that important stories reach audiences both at home and internationally.