PRESS KIT

The Eclipse

a film by Étienne Galloy

comedy drama | 18:25 minutes | 2026

Devenir un super-héros

Language: French + STE

shooting format: 4k - couleur

ratio 1.66 | Sound 5.1

DCP - ProRes - H264

country: Canada (Quebec)

Specs

Logline

The Eclipse is a coming-of-age sci-fi dramedy that explores male fatphobia and bullying in high school. It portrays, without compromise, the reality of adolescents growing up in a regional school environment.

Synopsis - short

Charlot, 13, is an instantly lovable teenager, but he’s chubby. In the unforgiving jungle of high school, he becomes an easy target for Benjamin and David, two wealthy boys as flawless as their Fortnite skins. To escape their cruel, relentless comments about his body, Charlot develops an obsession with superheroes, especially The Eclipse, a hero capable of running at the speed of light. The Eclipse explores male fatphobia and bullying in high school head-on, yet with great tenderness, at the heart of a fantastical universe where Charlot must learn to embrace his body while pursuing his greatest dream… becoming a superhero.

Synopsis - long

Charlot, 13, has everything you’d want in a lovable teenager, except he’s overweight. In the ruthless jungle of middle school, he becomes the perfect target for Benjamin and David, two rich kids as flawless as their Fortnite skins. To survive their attacks, he escapes into the world of superheroes, especially The Eclipse, who runs at the speed of light.

A tender and heartbreakingly poignant story about fatphobia and bullying, where Charlot must learn to embrace his body while chasing his biggest dream… becoming a superhero.

Cast

Charlot Joey Bélanger
Maëlle Florence Gonzalez
David Aksel Leblanc
Benjamin Jayden Henry
Audet Jayden Boyd
M. Duval Rémi Goulet
Mme Lorain Carolanne Foucher

FESTIVALS: Awards and official selections

DIRECTOR - BIO

Étienne Galloy is one of the youngest grantees of Téléfilm 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 feature film, The Marina (2019), distributed by Les Films Opale and now available on CRAVE. He has also directed several acclaimed short films, including I'm in love with my memories (2021), which has received multiple awards. In 2024, he directed Salem on the Road (2024), which premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). His most recent short, The Eclipse (2026), marks a new milestone in his filmmaking career.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

In 2026, more than ever, superhero films dominate the box office. Even though I’m a fan of the genre, these films also bring along 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 entire life with the constant anxiety of being “too fat” and will always have to navigate the fine line between self-love and the gaze of others… The same goes for Maelle.
The Eclipse is much more than a “superhero” film. It is a film deeply rooted in its time, one that critiques several social issues through 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 to be… Even a superhero.

Director's Filmography

The Eclipse | Fiction Short | 18 min 25 sec | 2026

Salem on the Road | 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
Emergence Montreal Festival | Official Competition 2025 | Honourable Mention
Serbest International Film Festival | Semi-finalist 2025
Pleins Écrans 2026 | Sélection Officielle
I'm in love with my memories | Fiction Short | 21 min | 2021
TV Broadcast on Unis.TV | 2022–2024
RVCQ | Best Fiction Short Competition 2022
Abitibi-Témiscamingue International Film Festival | Quebec Spotlight 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 | Turn at Any Cost Competition 2021
17th Prends Ça Court Gala | Official Selection 2021 | BFL Canada Award
Rimouski International Film Festival Carousel | 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

The Marina | Feature Film | 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
Rimouski International Film Festival Carousel | Professional Workshop 2021
Prague Youth Film Festival | Official Selection 2020 | Opening Film
Nottingham International Film Festival | Official Selection 2020 | Best Actress Award 2020
La 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 (all cast)
Fantasia | Official Selection 2020
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival | Official Selection 2020
Rimouski International Film Festival Carousel | Creative Residency 2018

Face au Lac | Fiction Short | 12 min | 2016
Rimouski International Film Festival Carousel | Official Competition 2017

Team

Screenplay by Étienne Galloy
Director of Photography by Barry Russell
Art Direction by Mathilde Donnard and Philippe Gauvin
Editing by Laurent Ouellette
Music by Jean-Raphaël Côté
Sound by Samuel Gagnon-Thibodeau (Sound Designer)
Sound Mixing by Joey Simas