Montréal Times

Les Furies release Quebec

Cover Image for Les Furies release Quebec
Mathieu Gagnon
Mathieu Gagnon
Share:

Les Furies release Quebec November 28, 2025 stands as a milestone in Quebec cinema, signaling not only a new film release but a broader conversation about women-led sports storytelling. Montréal Times confirms that this long-gestating project, directed by Mélanie Charbonneau and written by Gabrielle Côté, will hit theatres across Quebec on Friday, November 28, 2025, following a premiere a few days earlier. The film’s public rollout marks a historic moment for local cinema, positioning Quebec as a center for female-driven genre work and, more specifically, for roller derby-centered storytelling. The news arrives at a moment when producers and distributors in Quebec are increasingly spotlighting diverse voices and stories that reflect real-world sports culture and community dynamics. (lanaudart.com)

In addition to announcing the release date, industry outlets and regional media have highlighted the film’s cultural significance and logistical details — from filming locations to the creative team and the distribution pathway. Les Furies is billed as the first fully female-led sports comedy produced in Quebec, a label that has generated considerable interest among critics and readers who follow market trends in Canadian cinema. The official announcements indicate that the project is produced by Écho Média and distributed by Immina Films, with a marketing push that includes public appearances and outreach to potential audiences across the province. The film’s release schedule, including a theatrical premiere ahead of the general rollout, is designed to maximize reach in major urban centers while also connecting with communities in regional markets where roller derby and women’s sports narratives resonate. (filmsquebec.com)

Opening with momentum, the production’s development story also frames the broader context: filming took place in Montreal and Waterloo in spring 2025, and the project entered the market with a clear plan to debut in late 2025. The shoot location and timing are consistent with statements from producers and trade coverage, which emphasize a strong Quebec identity for the project and an emphasis on authentic regional settings that reflect the roller derby community central to the plot. A key pivot in the release plan is the timing of a formal premiere in Montreal followed by the commercial release, an approach designed to generate strong word-of-mouth and press attention ahead of the nationwide rollout. The premiere and subsequent release are documented in credible industry and press sources. (en.wikipedia.org)

Section 1: What Happened

Announcement and official confirmation

The official press push and scope

The public timeline for Les Furies began with formal announcements from Immina Films and Écho Média describing the film as Quebec’s first female-led sports comedy. The project is directed by Mélanie Charbonneau and written by Gabrielle Côté, with a notable ensemble cast that includes Gabrielle Côté, Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, France Castel, Juliette Gosselin, and others. The production frame underscores a Quebec-centric story about women reclaiming ice time and community spaces through roller derby. The producers explicitly positioned the film within a broader cultural conversation about women’s sports representation in cinema. This framing and the explicit identification as a first of its kind in Quebec cinema were reported by multiple trade and regional outlets. (cinemacinema.ca)

Release date and premiere details

Public-facing outlets and film-information aggregators consistently confirm the release date: November 28, 2025. In addition to the general release date, reports note a two-step rollout with a Montreal premiere on November 19, 2025, at Place des Arts, setting the stage for a wider commercial release later that month. This staggered approach aligns with standard industry practice for high-profile regional premieres, aimed at maximizing media coverage and audience reach in major markets before distributing to smaller centres. The dates are corroborated by multiple sources, including industry-focused outlets and film databases. (en.wikipedia.org)

Creative team, cast, and production details

Les Furies is created under the collaboration of Écho Média (production) and Immina Films (distribution), with Mélanie Charbonneau directing and Gabrielle Côté at the helm as screenwriter. The cast features Gabrielle Côté, Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, and France Castel among others, creating a high-profile ensemble intended to anchor the project in Quebec’s cinematic landscape. The production approach emphasizes local talent and production facilities, reinforcing the project’s Quebec identity. The film’s detailed cast list, producer credits, and distribution arrangement have been publicly circulated by the production companies and reported by press outlets. (filmsquebec.com)

Filming timeline and on-location details

A key element of the production narrative is the spring 2025 shoot across Montreal and Waterloo, underscoring the film’s authentic Quebec setting and its ties to the region’s sports culture. The on-location work in two major Quebec locales aligns with the film’s premise — a Waterloo-based story about a community rallying around women’s sports — and supports a credible, locally grounded aesthetic. Commentary and production notes from trade outlets confirm this schedule and locale selection. (en.wikipedia.org)

Quick take from the creative team

Gabrielle Côté has spoken about the creative impetus behind Les Furies, highlighting a desire to craft a comedy that foregrounds women’s camaraderie, resilience, and humor within a sport-centric narrative. A concise excerpt from interviews and press materials captures the ethos of the project and its ambitions for the Quebec audience. This voice helps explain the film’s appeal to viewers seeking authentic, character-driven sports storytelling. “J’avais envie d’écrire une comédie qui donne le goût de faire partie de la gang, même si on patine tout croche. Une histoire qui dépasse des lignes quand l’arbitre a le dos tourné. Une ode aux imparfaites...” is frequently cited in trade coverage and interviews around the film’s release. (filmsquebec.com)

Key facts and timeline at a glance

Release window and schedule

Creative team

  • Director: Mélanie Charbonneau; Writer: Gabrielle Côté; Producers: Écho Média; Distributor: Immina Films. (cinemacinema.ca)

Cast highlights

  • Gabrielle Côté, Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, France Castel, Juliette Gosselin, Aurélia Arandi-Longpré, Debbie Lynch-White, Lyraël Dauphin, Ximena Ferrer, Nathalie Doummar, Sandrine Bisson, Samantha Fins, Thérèse Perreault, Carmen Sylvestre, Florence Boulé-Moineau, Louis Carrière, Antoine Pilon, Maxime de Cotret, Antoine Bertrand. (lanaudart.com)

Production and distribution

Contextual notes

  • The project is described as the first female-led sports comedy produced in Quebec, reinforcing its significance within both the local film industry and broader discussions about gender representation in sports cinema. (filmsquebec.com)

Section 2: Why It Matters

Cultural and industry significance in Quebec cinema

A milestone for female-led sports storytelling

Industry coverage frames Les Furies as a historic milestone: the first Quebec-produced, female-led sports comedy, a niche that has drawn attention from critics and audiences seeking diverse, grounded portrayals of women in sport. The emphasis on a female-led roller derby story set in Waterloo and Montreal aligns with broader industry trends toward more inclusive storytelling and the championing of women creators in front of and behind the camera. Analysts and critics have noted the importance of such projects for the local market’s growth, audience engagement, and cultural impact. (filmsquebec.com)

Local market dynamics and audience demand

Quebec’s film market has shown a growing appetite for locally produced genre cinema that reflects regional identities. Les Furies fits within a pattern of Quebecois films that emphasize community, sport, and social stakes, appealing to diverse age groups and bilingual audiences. In addition to its production provenance, the film’s rollout strategy — a Montreal premiere followed by a province-wide release — is designed to maximize visibility in urban hubs while building momentum in regional markets known for robust cinema-going cultures. Industry observers see this as a prudent model for niche, culturally specific projects that nonetheless aspire to broad appeal. (filmsquebec.com)

Representation and social resonance

The film’s subject matter — women reclaiming public space through sport and collective action — resonates with contemporary conversations about gender equity in sports, media representation, and community empowerment. The roller-derby premise offers a dynamic, action-oriented context in which female characters navigate professional, amateur, and social pressures, potentially broadening the mainstream appeal of women-led athletic narratives. While precise audience reception metrics will develop post-release, early coverage highlights the potential for Les Furies to contribute to ongoing dialogues about representation, equality, and cultural production in Quebec. (cinemacinema.ca)

Creative voices and industry validation

The collaboration among Mélanie Charbonneau (director), Gabrielle Côté (writer/lead actor), and the production team signals a strong creative alignment with Quebec’s storytelling strengths — character-driven humor, regional authenticity, and sport-inflected drama. The project’s publicly stated aim to center female athletic experiences aligns with the broader industry push toward more inclusive content. Observers point to Charbonneau’s track record and Côté’s dual role as writer and performer as indicators of a coherent, market-relevant creative vision. (cinemacinema.ca)

Economic and promotional implications

Distribution strategy and market reach

Immina Films’ involvement as distributor, alongside Écho Média’s production leadership, indicates a focused approach to Quebec-wide distribution with potential for ancillary markets. The release window, timed to leverage word-of-mouth and press coverage ahead of the holiday period, is designed to maximize audience attendance in a competitive fall-to-winter cinema landscape. The distribution arrangement and release timing have been cited in film industry coverage as aligned with the film’s ambitions to generate strong provincial engagement. (cinemacinema.ca)

Promotional accelerators and community engagement

Beyond traditional press and press screenings, regional media outlets and community-focused partners have highlighted promotional activity surrounding Les Furies, including outreach to fans of the film’s roller-derby premise and soccer-like crossovers in local sports culture. The film’s marketing plan appears to incorporate public-facing outreach to cinema-goers who connect with female-led sports stories and regionally rooted narratives. Coverage from Quebec-based media underscores the localized promotional angle and the potential for a ripple effect across communities that identify with the story. (infolanaudiere.ca)

Critical sentiment and early coverage

Early reviews and feature pieces in trade press and cultural outlets underscore the film’s distinctiveness and its potential to influence the Quebec film economy by demonstrating the viability of female-led sports comedies. While it is premature to claim a long-term impact, analysts emphasize that Les Furies could help catalyze further investment in similar projects and encourage studios to pursue more diverse, regionally grounded storytelling. This sentiment is reflected in multiple pre-release analyses and industry write-ups. (filmsquebec.com)

Representation, audience, and cultural impact

The roller derby lens and audience appeal

The film’s focal sport — roller derby — is a distinctive lens through which to explore themes of teamwork, resilience, and community identity. This choice of sport provides a kinetic, visually engaging backdrop for character-driven storytelling and could help attract audiences beyond traditional French-language film fans. The premise, as described in multiple overviews, centers on women forming a clandestine roller-derby team to reclaim space and time once lost to a new men’s semi-professional hockey franchise. Such framing has the potential to broaden cross-audience appeal, including sports enthusiasts, fans of Quebec cinema, and viewers seeking strong female-led stories. (cinemacinema.ca)

Regional pride and cultural specificity

Quebec audiences often respond to films that reflect local languages, locations, and social dynamics. By anchoring the story in Waterloo and Montreal, the project taps into a sense of regional pride and authenticity, which can translate into stronger local box-office performance and a loyal audience base. Critics have noted that the film’s Quebec-specific setting and production team add credibility and resonance for audiences who value homegrown storytelling. (filmsquebec.com)

What critics and industry voices are saying (snippets)

  • The ensemble’s dynamic and the premise’s novelty have been highlighted by trade outlets as a strong predictor of audience engagement, particularly given Quebec’s appetite for locally rooted sports cinema. (filmsquebec.com)
  • Gabrielle Côté’s dual role as screenwriter and star is frequently cited as a key driver of the film’s narrative cohesion and humor, reinforcing the project’s creative strength. (filmsquebec.com)

Section 3: What’s Next

Release window, festival activity, and audience anticipation

The immediate weeks post-release

With the commercial debut scheduled for November 28, 2025, audiences across Quebec will gain access to a film that has already generated considerable media attention for its groundbreaking status. The early premiere on November 19, 2025, in Montreal is expected to feed positive press coverage and social-media buzz that will help drive theater-going momentum through the holiday season. The cadence of a premiere ahead of the broader release is a common strategy in regional markets and is documented in the film’s rollout plans as reported by multiple outlets. (en.wikipedia.org)

Promotional tours and targeted screenings

In addition to standard marketing, there are indications of targeted outreach and community-based screenings that align with the film’s genre and geographic focus. While specific dates beyond the premiere and release window have not been publicly detailed in every outlet, there are signals of a robust promotional presence across Quebec cities, including potential partnerships with cinema venues and cultural organizations to engage regional audiences. The promotional approach is consistent with the film’s branding as a regional cultural event rather than a broad national launch. (infolanaudiere.ca)

What to watch for in the weeks ahead

Box office and reception benchmarks

As with any niche, locally rooted film, Les Furies will be evaluated by a combination of box-office results, critical reception, and social-media engagement. Early indicators from trade press suggest a favorable reception to the film’s premise and its creative leadership, providing a foundation for sustained performance through the opening weekend and beyond. Readers should look to post-release reporting from Quebec film outlets for box-office tallies and critical consensus as the film expands to additional screens. (filmsquebec.com)

Impact on Quebec cinema and future projects

If Les Furies achieves its anticipated impact, it could influence future production decisions in Quebec, encouraging more female-led sport narratives and regional collaborations. Observers will be watching for announcements about additional projects that build on this model, including potential sequels, spin-offs, or crossover projects with other Quebec-based studios. Industry coverage frames this release as potentially catalytic for a broader pattern of investment in women-centered genre cinema in the province. (filmsquebec.com)

What’s next for audiences and industry watchers

Anticipated conversations and academic interest

Academics, critics, and cultural commentators are likely to examine Les Furies through lenses of gender representation, sports narrative, and regional filmmaking. Given the film’s stated aims and its status as a first in its category, expect academic discussions around its influence on Quebec’s film ecosystem, as well as comparative analyses with other national cinema traditions that celebrate women in sport-themed storytelling. While such conversations will unfold in the weeks and months after release, the film’s premiere and early reception will provide a rich corpus for analysis. (filmsquebec.com)

Ongoing promotional momentum

The marketing cycle for Les Furies is likely to extend beyond the initial release window, with continued media coverage, festival considerations, and potential international interest should the film appeal beyond Quebec. The combination of a strong local story, credible creative team, and targeted distribution positions the project to sustain attention as audiences discover the film’s humor, heart, and social resonance. (cinemacinema.ca)

Closing

Les Furies release Quebec November 28, 2025 signals more than a single film release; it marks a pivotal moment for Quebec cinema as it elevates female-led sports storytelling within a region known for its culture of storytelling and athletic pride. With Mélanie Charbonneau directing and Gabrielle Côté writing, the project leverages a compelling cast and a production plan designed to maximize regional impact while drawing attention from national and potentially international audiences. The premiere in Montreal on November 19, followed by the broader release, sets a timeline that industry watchers will use to gauge the film’s early reception and its potential to influence future Quebec productions in this space. As the market absorbs this distinctive, locally grounded comedy, readers can expect ongoing coverage of Les Furies, including box-office updates, critical assessments, and audience feedback across urban and rural Quebec.

To stay updated on Les Furies, monitor Montreal-area screenings, festival announcements, and regional media coverage as the film continues its rollout. The Quebec cinema landscape is watching closely as this title — billed as the province’s first female-led sports comedy — moves from a high-profile premiere into a broader public conversation about women in sports storytelling and the evolving language of Quebec film.

Blockquote

J’avais envie d’écrire une comédie qui donne le goût de faire partie de la gang, même si on patine tout croche. Une histoire qui dépasse des lignes quand l’arbitre a le dos tourné. Une ode aux imparfaites. — Gabrielle Côté, écrivaine et actrice principale This quote from the writer-actor, cited in press materials, captures the spirit behind Les Furies and helps explain the film’s appeal to audiences seeking authentic, character-driven humor within a sports framework. (filmsquebec.com)

As the film enters theatres across Quebec on November 28, 2025, Montrealers and readers of the Montréal Times can anticipate a culturally resonant, well-produced story that adds a vibrant, female-centered chapter to Quebec’s sports cinema narrative. The film’s journey from spring 2025 shoot to a late-2025 release illustrates a deliberate, regionally grounded approach to storytelling that aligns with the province’s creative economy goals while delivering a fresh, entertaining perspective to audiences hungry for new voices in sports comedy.

Check