A Quebec filmmaker is receiving international acclaim for her documentary work.Romane Pilote-Lamontagne, a 22-year-old student at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), was awarded Best International Film at the Student Experimental Film Festival at Binghamton University in New york for J’ai 18 ans (la guerre). The film,which explores the experiences of an 18-year-old Ukrainian woman resettled in Montreal,highlights the power of student filmmaking to address complex global issues.
A young filmmaker from Quebec is making waves internationally after her debut short film earned top honors at a prestigious film festival. Romane Pilote-Lamontagne, 22, recently took home the award for Best International Film at the Student Experimental Film Festival at Binghamton University in New York for her moving documentary, J’ai 18 ans (la guerre).
Pilote-Lamontagne’s film focuses on Lisa, an 18-year-old Ukrainian woman who spent several months in Montreal after the outbreak of the war. The documentary explores themes of displacement and resilience, and clearly resonated with the festival’s jury. The win is particularly significant as the film was created as part of a course at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) in 2024.
The young director, who is following in the footsteps of her father, filmmaker Sébastien Pilote, admitted she was surprised by the recognition. She initially presented the film at the REGARD festival in March.
“I’m super proud because I made this film as part of my coursework, without imagining it would travel,” Pilote-Lamontagne told Radio-Canada. “I’m really happy to see that it was well received by other students, not just at UQAM, but in New York. It just gives me the desire to continue.”
The budding filmmaker credits her father, Sébastien Pilote, with igniting her passion for cinema. He introduced her to the world of film at a young age and is immensely proud to see her succeeding in the field. The award underscores the growing prominence of student filmmaking and the power of documentary storytelling.
“He tells me he’s proud,” Pilote-Lamontagne shared. “We’ve always shared a love of cinema, but it was more him sharing films with me, his tastes. Now that I’ve evolved on my side, we discuss things as equals. He asks me for advice, for feedback. I think it’s beautiful to share that with my father.”
