Biography

Étienne Galloy is one of the youngest recipients of Telefilm Canada's Talent to Watch program. After a notable career as an actor, he turned to directing, co-writing, co-directing and co-producing his first fiction feature, La Marina (2019), distributed by Les Films Opale and now available on Crave. He has also directed several acclaimed short films, including Je suis amoureux de mes souvenirs (2021), which won multiple awards. In 2024, he directed Salem sur la route, which had its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). His most recent short, Devenir un super-héros (2026), marks a new milestone in his career as a director.

Filmography

Devenir un super-héros (The Eclipse) | Fiction short | 18 min 25 sec | 2026

Salem sur la route | Fiction short | 19 min | 2024

Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) | Official Selection 2024

SPASM | Official Selection 2024

Abitibi-Témiscamingue International Film Festival | Official Selection 2024

Prends ça court | Haskell Cinema Screening | 2024

Dieppe Canadian Film Festival | Official Selection 2025

Comox Valley International Film Festival | Official Selection 2025

National Film Festival for Talented Youth | Official Selection 2025

Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival | Official Selection 2025

Palm Springs International ShortFest | Official Selection 2025

Regina International Film Festival and Awards | Official Selection 2025

Regina International Film Festival and Awards | Best Canadian Short 2025

Cuenca International Film Festival | Official Selection 2025

Fantasia International Film Festival | Official Selection 2025

Les Percéides | Official Selection 2025

Festival Émergence de Montréal | Official Competition 2025 | Honourable Mention

Serbest International Film Festival | Semi-finalist 2025

Pleins Écrans 2026 | Official Selection

Je suis amoureux de mes souvenirs | Fiction short | 21 min | 2021

TV broadcast on Unis TV | 2022–2024

RVCQ | Best Fiction Short Competition 2022

Abitibi-Témiscamingue International Film Festival | “Coup de cœur du Québec” program, La Fabrique Culturelle | 2021

Namur International Film Festival | FIFF Campus Official Selection 2021

Les Percéides | Official Selection 2021 | Special Jury Mention for Rémi Goulet's performance

Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival | Official Selection 2021

Regard sur le court-métrage | Tourner à tout prix Competition 2021

17th Prends ça court! Gala | Official Selection 2021 | BFL Canada Award

Carrousel international du film de Rimouski | Official Selection 2021 | André-Melançon Grant for Best Quebec Short

Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival | Official Selection 2021 | Special Jury Award

Thessaloniki International Student Film Festival (TISFF Thess) | Official Selection 2021

La Marina | Fiction feature | 80 min | 2020

Available on Crave | 2021+

Dumbo Film Festival | Semi-finalist 2021

Dieppe Canadian Film Festival | Best Feature Competition 2021

RVCQ | Gilles-Carle Competition for Best First or Second Feature 2021

Cinequest Film Festival & Creativity | Official Selection 2021

Carrousel international du film de Rimouski | Professional panel 2021

Prague Youth Film Festival | Official Selection 2020 | Opening Film

Nottingham International Film Festival | Official Selection 2020 | Best Actress Award 2020

Mostra de São Paulo | New Filmmakers Competition 2020

Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival | Semi-finalist 2020

Whistler Film Festival | Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature 2020 | Best Cinematography Award | Honourable Mention for Best Performance (ensemble cast)

Fantasia | Official Selection 2020

Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival | Official Selection 2020

Carrousel international du film de Rimouski | Creative residency 2018

Tandem | Fiction short | 5 min | 2018

Broadcast on Unis TV | 2019–2020

Broadcast on Tou.TV | 2019–2020

Plein(s) Écran(s) theatrical screening | Shown before the feature IMPETUS

Regard sur le court-métrage | Tourner à tout prix Competition 2019

RVCQ | Official Competition 2019

Festival Scope 2018

Festival du nouveau cinéma | Official Competition Focus Québec / Canada 2018

Face au lac | Fiction short | 12 min | 2016

Carrousel international du film de Rimouski | Official Competition 2017

Director's Note

In 2026, more than ever, superhero films dominate the box office. Even though I'm a fan of the genre, these films also bring a number of issues in their wake. In recent years, women have spoken out about the objectification of the female body on screen, and many are challenging these mindsets by normalizing atypical bodies through the inspiring body-positive movement. Personally, I deeply relate to these issues, because there is also enormous social pressure surrounding the male body: the importance of having abs, of being in shape.

We have very few male role models on screen who are comfortable in their own skin… who embrace their bellies and, simply, their atypical bodies. Charlot, despite his emancipation at the end of the film, will live his whole life with the constant anxiety of being “too fat” and will always have to find the balance between self-love and the gaze of others… The same goes for Maëlle. Devenir un super-héros is much more than a “superhero” film. It is a film deeply rooted in its time, one that critiques several social issues with a tone that is both tender and raw. With this film, I hope above all to show people that in 2026, it's time to embrace our bodies, and that no matter what we look like, we can become whoever we want… Even a superhero.