Toy Gun Bandit (Faux Gun Bandit) is a Quebec action-drama film written and directed by Rémi St-Michel. The film stars Félix Munger, David Beaudoin, Sara Montpetit, Jenny-Mark Turmel-Pichette, Lou Thompson, and Brandon Truong.
The film had its world premiere in the Centrepiece section of the Toronto International Film Festival.
It had its Quebec premiere at the Quebec City Film Festival.
The film is set for theatrical release in Quebec in 2027.
Synopsis After bragging about stealing from a convenience store, Félix is pulled in by his new friend Dave into a plan to rob a local bank. Hungry for recognition, he dives in without hesitation. But the thrill fades fast as things unravel, and the guns turn out to be all too real.
This is almost a true story.
Production The film was shot in spring 2025, in Quebec City, Beauport and Lévis.Nicholas Sokic, "Les Productions Spécimen’s Faux Gun begins filming in Quebec". Playback, May 22, 2025. It is St-Michel's second feature film overall, following Before We Explode (Avant qu'on explose) in 2019, but the first for which he was both the director and the screenwriter.
Technical specifications Sources : IMDb et CTMV
Original title : Faux Gun Bandit
Direction and writting : Rémi St-Michel Music : Peter Venne Artistic Direction : Clélia Brissaud Costume : Gabrielle Lauzier Photography : Xavier Bossé Sound : Jean-Sébastien Beaudoin Gagnon, Samuel Gagnon-Thibodeau and Stéphane Bergeron Editing : Rémi St-Michel Production : Jeanne-Marie Poulain Executive production : Anaëlle Béglet Associated production : Rène Besonne, Rémi Dufresne, Sophie Michon and Hippolyte de Chanlaire Production company : Les Productions Spécimen Distribution company : h264 Country of production : Canada Original language : French Genres : Action et drama Running time : 102 minutes
Distribution
Félix Munger : Félix David Beaudoin : Dave Sara Montpetit : Sara Brandon Truong : Brandon Chau-Phi Van Quirion : Chau Jenny-Mark Turmel-Pichette : Jenny Lou Thompson : Lou
Faux Gun Bandit premiered in the Centrepiece program at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.Kate Erbland, TIFF Adds More Than 60 New Titles, Including Festival Winners ‘La Gradiva’ and ‘Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!’". IndieWire, August 4, 2026. The film is set to be released theatrically in Quebec in 2027. The distributor h264 is handling international sales for the film.
Critical response For That Shelf, Rachel West wrote that "it is easy to see why Toy Gun Bandit is one of this year’s TIFF Next Wave Selects, a group of films highlighted by a group of teenage film enthusiasts. Félix’s incredulous teenage experience is filled with such universal truths that, beneath this wild premise, the film feels remarkably relatable. It’s the type of film that will have audiences championing the state of Canadian cinema as they exit the theatre, engaged and excited about the distinctive and spirited stories coming out of our home country, particularly in Quebec."Rachel West, "Toy Gun Bandit Review: TIFF 2026". That Shelf, September 10, 2026.
Awards The film was shortlisted for the Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award at the Directors Guild of Canada awards in 2026.Connie Thiessen, "2026 DGC Awards film nominees led by ‘Ready or Not 2’". Broadcast Dialogue, September 29, 2026.
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