Gamma Rays () is a Canadian comedy-drama film, written and directed by Henry Bernadet and released in 2023.Charles-Henri Ramond, "Rayons Gamma, Les – Film de Henry Bernadet". Films du Québec, November 5, 2023. Made with a cast of non-professional actors, the film centres on three interconnected stories about young immigrants in the Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension district of Montreal, Quebec.Charles Rioux, "Les rayons gamma : le talent brut des jeunes de Saint-Michel au grand écran". Ici Radio-Canada, November 10, 2023.
The stories centre on Abdel (Yassine Jabrane), whose cousin Omar (Hani Laroum) comes to visit but sparks a crisis when he gets lost after Abdel sends him out on his own without accompaniment despite Omar's lack of familiarity with the city; Fatima (Chaïmaa Zineddine Elidrissi), who is working as a supermarket cashier and trying to deal with an unpaid debt to a drug dealer; and Toussaint (Chris Kanyembuga), an intelligent but introverted young man who is drawn out of his shell when he finds a message in a bottle while fishing.Martin Kudlac, "San Sebastian 2023 Review: GAMMA RAYS Illuminates Youth Immigrant Lives". Screen Anarchy, October 23, 2023.
Production and distribution The film was Bernadet's solo directorial debut, following television credits and the 2008 film West of Pluto (À l'ouest de Pluton) which he codirected with Myriam Verreault.Charles-Henri Ramond, "A l’ouest de Pluton – Film d’Henry Bernadet et de Myriam Verreault". Films du Québec, January 1, 2009. To cast the film's leading roles, he sought out amateur actors at Georges-Vanier secondary school in Villeray.Charles Rioux, "Les rayons gamma : le talent brut des jeunes de Saint-Michel au grand écran". Ici Radio-Canada, November 10, 2023.
It premiered at the 71st San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2023,Charles-Henri Ramond, "Les rayons gamma en première mondiale à San Sebastian". Films du Québec, July 28, 2023. before going into limited commercial release in Quebec in November.
Awards Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Prix collégial du cinéma québécois2024Best FilmHenry BernadetCharles-Henri Ramond, "Les finalistes du 13e PCCQ". Films du Québec, January 11, 2024. Prix Iris December 8, 2024 Revelation of the Year Chaïmaa Zineddine Elidrissi Éric Lavallée, "Prix Iris 2024: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person Leads “Quebec Oscars” Noms". Ioncinema, October 9, 2024. Best Casting Henry Bernadet, Marie-Anne Sergerie, Victor Tremblay-Blouin Canadian Screen Awards 2025 Best Picture Henry Bernadet, Vuk Stojanovic, Jean-Martin Gagnon Canadian Screen Awards: Film Nominations. Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, March 26, 2025. Best Director Henry Bernadet Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film Chaïmaa Zineddine Elidrissi Best Original Screenplay Henry Bernadet, Isabelle Brouillette, Nicolas Krief Slamdance Film Festival 2025 Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize Henry Bernadet Christian Zilko, "Slamdance Film Festival Announces Award Winners from Inaugural Los Angeles Edition". IndieWire, January 27, 2025.
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