Neon Dreaming

Neon Dreaming
FrenchRêver en néon
Directed byMarie-Claire Marcotte
Written byMarie-Claire Marcotte
Based onFlush by Marie-Claire Marcotte
Produced byCorey Loranger
Marie-Claire Marcotte
StarringMaélya Boyd
Corey Loranger
Geneviève Langlois
Caroline Raynaud
Maïna-Rose Caméus
Sheila Ingabire Isaro
CinematographyBrennan Full
Edited byMaria Todorov-Topouzov
Music byKevin J. Black
Production
companies
Fittonia Films
Calibou Films
Distributed byIndiecan Entertainment (Canada)
Attraction Distribution (worldwide)
Release date
Running time
83 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageFrench

Neon Dreaming (French: Rêver en néon) is a Canadian drama film, directed by Marie-Claire Marcotte and released in 2024.[1] An adaptation of her own theatrical play Flush, the film stars Maélya Boyd as Billie, a young girl using her vivid imagination to cope with the absence of her mother.[2]

The cast also includes Corey Loranger, Geneviève Langlois, Maïna-Rose Caméus, Caroline Raynaud, Sheila Isaro, Pierre-André Muila, Hélène Dallaire, Grey Reich, Nicole Prefontaine, Baeyen Hoffman, Jasper Green, Émile Legault and Mike Skakoon in supporting roles.

Production

The film received funding from Telefilm Canada in 2022.[3] It went into production in winter 2024, shooting in the Chelmsford neighbourhood of Sudbury, Ontario.[4][5]

Release

The film premiered as a special presentation at the 2024 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival in September 2024.[6] It had its international premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in November 2024.[7]

Awards

Event Date Category Recipient Result
Montreal Independent Film Festival[8] October 14, 2024 Best First-Time Filmmaker Marie-Claire Marcotte Won
Best Youth Artist Maélya Boyd Won
Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival[9] November 24, 2024 Just Film Children's Jury Best Film Neon Dreaming Nominated
Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma[10] February 27, 2025 Best Franco-Canadian Feature Neon Dreaming Nominated
Festival international du film pour enfants de Montréal[11] March 9, 2025 Union des artistes Prize for Best Actress Maélya Boyd Won
Best Feature Neon Dreaming Nominated
Glasgow Film Festival[12] March 9, 2025 Audience Award Neon Dreaming Nominated
RACCORD[13] March 23, 2025 Prix Oeil du RACCORD Marie-Claire Marcotte Won
Festival du film Canadien de Dieppe[14] March 30, 2025 Best Actress Maélya Boyd Won
Sunscreen Film Festival[15] April 27, 2025 Best International Feature Neon Dreaming Nominated
Regina International Film Festival[16] August 23, 2025 Best Canadian Feature Neon Dreaming Won
Canada International Children's Film Festival[17] August 24, 2025 The Maple Leaf Award Neon Dreaming Won
Best Feature Film Neon Dreaming Nominated
Best Rising Star Maélya Boyd Nominated
Children's Jury Award Neon Dreaming Nominated
Parents' Jury Award Neon Dreaming Nominated
Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival[18] November 23, 2025 Best Film (Children's Film Competition) Neon Dreaming Nominated
Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People[19] December 6, 2025 Best Canadian Feature Neon Dreaming Nominated
Bulbul Children's International Film Festival January 17, 2026 Best Film Neon Dreaming Won

References

  1. ^ Kelly Townsend, "Radio-Canada acquires broadcast rights to Rêver en néon". Playback, January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "DÉBUT DE TOURNAGE DU PREMIER LONG-MÉTRAGE DE MARIE-CLAIRE MARCOTTE RÊVER EN NÉON". CTVM, February 2, 2024.
  3. ^ "Le film réalisé par une Fransaskoise est récompensé en financement". Ici Radio-Canada, July 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Marie-Claire Marcotte tourne son premier long métrage « Rêver en néon »". Qui Fait Quoi, February 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "Un tournage sudburois pour le premier long-métrage d’une cinéaste francophone". Ici Radio-Canada, February 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival Details 2024 Lineup". Exclaim!, August 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Neon Dreaming". PÖFF. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Neon Dreaming". Montreal Independent Film Magazine. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Neon Dreaming". PÖFF. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Programmation de la 43e édition". Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  12. ^ Tabbara, Mona. "Spilt Milk wins audience award at Glasgow Film Festival as final edition of director Allison Gardner wraps". Screen Daily. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Prix Oeil du RACCORD". RACCORD. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  14. ^ Cartier, Maxime (31 March 2025). "Festival du film canadien à Dieppe : qui sont les gagnants de cette 12e édition". Les Informations Dieppoises. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Neon Dreaming". Eventive. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  17. ^ "The CICFF 2025 Jury Award Winners Are…". YouTube. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Press release 23rd of Oct. 2025" (PDF). Oulu International Children's and Youth Film Festival. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  19. ^ "International Competition 2025". Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People. Retrieved 8 December 2025.