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Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen
from Wikipedia

Kim Nguyen (born 1974)[1] is a Canadian film director and screenwriter, best known for his 2012 film War Witch (Rebelle) which received numerous honours including an Academy Awards nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.[2]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec to a Vietnamese father and a French-Canadian mother,[1][3] he is a 1997 graduate of Concordia University in Montreal, having earned a BFA.[4] His knowledge of computer-assisted image manipulation was deepened while he taught cinematographic language and screenwriting at the Institut de création artistique et de recherche en infographie (ICARI) and Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montréal.[1][5][6]

Career

[edit]

Kim has directed a number of feature films including War Witch (2012) (also known by the French title Rebelle), Eye on Juliet (2017) and The Hummingbird Project (2018). For War Witch, the film was the top winner at the 1st Canadian Screen Awards, in addition to being named Best Picture and winning acting awards for two of its stars, Nguyen himself won the awards for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay,[7] which also earned him an Academy Awards nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.[8] Following War Witch, Kim Nguyen was one of 276 new members invited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[9] In 2019 he was the patron and curator of the Festival Vues dans la tête de... film festival in Rivière-du-Loup.[10][11]

In 2025 he was announced as entering production on Le Sablier, an adaptation of Édith Blais's non-fiction book about her experience being captured and held hostage by Islamist terrorists while travelling in Burkina Faso.[12]

Filmography

[edit]

Films

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Notes Ref.
2006 La chambre no. 13 S1, E9: Le rat [26]
2017 Bellevue S1, E5: How Do I Remember?
S1, E6: The Problem with the Truth
[27]
2019 Anne with an E S3, E2: There Is Something at Work in My Soul Which I Do Not Understand [28]
2022 Transplant S2, E9: Between & E10: Shadows
S3, Episode 5: Nadir
[29]

Accolades

[edit]
Awards and nominations received by Kim Nguyen
Organizations[a] Year[b] Category Work Result Ref.
Academy Awards 2013 Best Foreign Language Film War Witch Nominated [30]
Berlin International Film Festival 2012 Golden Bear Nominated [31]
Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention Won [32]
Cambridge Film Festival 2012 Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature Won [33]
Canadian Screen Awards 2013 Best Director Won [34]
Best Screenplay Won
Cinema for Peace awards 2013 Most Valuable Film of the Year Nominated [35]
Directors Guild of Canada 2017 Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film Two Lovers and a Bear Nominated [36]
Fantastic Fest 2009 Best Fantastic Director Truffle Won [37]
Film Critics Circle of Australia 2014 Best Feature Documentary Blush of Fruit Nominated [38]
Fresh Film Festival 2009 Fresh Generation Truffle Won [39]
Gala Québec Cinéma 2003 Best Director The Marsh Nominated [40]
Best Screenplay Nominated
2011 Best Director City of Shadows Nominated [41]
2013 War Witch Won [42]
Best Screenplay Won [43]
Most Successful Film Outside Quebec Nominated
2017 Best Director Two Lovers and a Bear Nominated [44]
Best Screenplay Nominated
Most Successful Film Outside Quebec Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards 2013 Best International Film War Witch Nominated [45]
Milwaukee Film Festival 2013 Herzfeld Competition Award Won [46]
Montreal International Black Film Festival 2013 Vanguard Award Honored [47]
Sitges Film Festival 2012 Noves Visions Award War Witch Won [48]
Tribeca Film Festival 2012 Best Narrative Feature Won [49]
Vancouver International Film Festival 2012 Best Canadian Feature Film Nominated [50]
Venice Film Festival 2017 Venice Days – Fedeora Awards for Best Film Eye on Juliet Won [51]
Vietnamese International Film Festival 2013 Grand-Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Feature War Witch Won [52]
World Cinema Amsterdam 2012 Audience Award Won [53]
Writers Guild of Canada 2017 Feature Film Two Lovers and a Bear Nominated [54]

See also

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Notes

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Kim Nguyen (born 1974) is a Canadian , , and based in , , best known for his internationally acclaimed drama War Witch (2012), which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and swept major Canadian awards. Nguyen graduated with a degree in from and later obtained a master's in from the , after which he founded the production company Shen Studio and taught courses in cinematographic arts and scriptwriting. His early feature films include the Le Marais (2002), the horror entry Truffe (2008)—which won prizes at and the —and the sci-fi drama La Cité (2010). War Witch, written and directed by Nguyen, follows a 12-year-old girl forced into service as a child soldier in a war-torn African country; it received 10 , including Best Film and Best Direction, as well as eight Prix Jutra (now Prix Iris) honors, and a at the . Nguyen continued his career with the romantic drama Two Lovers and a Bear (2016), the sci-fi romance Eye on Juliet (2017), and the thriller The Hummingbird Project (2019), the latter starring Jesse Eisenberg and Alexander Skarsgård as high-frequency traders attempting to lay a fiber-optic cable across the U.S. for economic advantage. In May 2025, Nguyen was announced as the writer and director of his next feature, Le Sablier (The Hourglass), an adaptation of Édith Blais' nonfiction book about survival in extreme conditions. Throughout his career, Nguyen has garnered over 15 major awards for his introspective storytelling and visual style, often blending personal and global themes in independent cinema.

Early years

Family background and childhood

Kim Nguyen was born in 1974 in , . He is the son of a mother and a Vietnamese father, an engineer (sometimes described as an economist) who emigrated from to in the early , prior to the escalation of the . This family background provided Nguyen with a bicultural upbringing, blending French-Canadian and Vietnamese cultural influences in the multicultural setting of Montréal. Growing up in this diverse environment exposed him to a rich array of narratives and perspectives that informed his early worldview.

Education and teaching

Kim Nguyen earned a (BFA) degree from Concordia University's Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema in 1997. After this, he obtained a in from the . During his studies at Concordia, he focused on cinematographic language and , engaging in coursework that emphasized visual and narrative development. This academic training provided a foundation in analyzing and constructing filmic elements, including the mechanics of shots, editing rhythms, and character-driven scripts. Following his graduation, Nguyen took on teaching roles at the Institut de création artistique et de recherche en infographie (ICARI) and in Montréal, where he instructed students in cinematographic arts and script writing. These positions, which he held in the years immediately after completing his and before transitioning to full-time around 2002, allowed him to apply and refine the theoretical knowledge gained from his . Nguyen's education profoundly shaped his directorial approach by fostering an iterative rooted in and experimentation. For instance, coursework at Concordia involved producing student films that were often technically flawed, such as early attempts at narrative shorts that suffered from pacing issues or underdeveloped visuals; these experiences taught him the value of revising scripts through peer feedback, a method he later applied to refine and scene structure. Similarly, studies in cinematographic language honed his sensitivity to atmospheric elements, like and composition, influencing a preference for evocative, mood-driven framing over purely plot-driven techniques. This foundational emphasis on conceptual experimentation, drawn directly from his academic training, underscored his belief in learning through during the formative stages of directing.

Professional career

Early filmmaking and shorts

Kim Nguyen entered the filmmaking scene shortly after graduating from Concordia University in 1997, where he had honed his skills in film production. He founded his own production company, Shen Studio, to support his initial projects, reflecting the resource constraints typical of emerging Quebec filmmakers. These early efforts were characterized by low budgets and a reliance on personal creativity, allowing Nguyen to experiment freely in Montreal's vibrant but competitive independent film community. Nguyen's debut short, La route (1997), marked his first foray into narrative storytelling, though details on its production remain sparse. He followed this with Soleil glacé (2000), a 20-minute piece exploring themes of identity and familial reconnection among Vietnamese immigrants. In the film, an immigrant spots his presumed-dead brother on a local TV broadcast during a Vietnamese delegation visit, blending personal loss with cultural displacement in a poignant, manner. This work highlighted Nguyen's emerging interest in immigrant experiences, drawing from his own Vietnamese heritage, and was produced on a shoestring budget that emphasized intimate, dialogue-driven scenes over elaborate sets. By 2004, Nguyen directed Le gant (The Glove), a concise 7-minute 40-second short that delved into everyday through the story of a diminutive man navigating workplace hierarchies and unrequited attraction. Shot in , it showcased his growing command of subtle character studies and urban locations, using non-professional actors to capture authentic, unpolished interactions. Production challenges persisted, including limited funding from regional grants, which forced Nguyen to leverage collaborations with local talent and his Shen Studio resources for . Through these shorts from 1997 to 2004, Nguyen refined a marked by atmospheric tension, innovative effects, and a focus on marginalized perspectives, laying the groundwork for his later narrative depth.

Feature films and international recognition

Nguyen transitioned to feature filmmaking with his directorial debut, Le Marais (2002), an expressionist fantasy set in 19th-century about two social outcasts settling near a swamp and facing village suspicion. The film, which he wrote and directed, marked his shift from short films by exploring themes of isolation and myth in a stylized, art-directed world. He followed with the black comedy Truffe (2008), a 75-minute satirical that critiques global warming and consumer excess in a surreal, alternate-future transformed into a truffle-rich hotspot. Influenced by 1950s B-movies, the film employed stylized visuals, including exaggerated sets and whimsical effects. Nguyen experimented with digital manipulation in , building on techniques from his Concordia training, while in Quebec's urban and rural areas added a grounded yet fantastical texture. Despite ongoing funding hurdles in Quebec's indie scene, where public support often favored larger features, Truffe won prizes at and the and demonstrated his ability to blend humor with social commentary using minimal resources and collaborative networks. Nguyen's next feature, the sci-fi drama La Cité (2010), also known as City of Shadows, explored themes of urban and human connection in a near-future plagued by surveillance and isolation. After further development, Nguyen's breakthrough came with War Witch (2012), a drama about a child soldier in that he scripted himself to blend realism with magical elements drawn from his research on child combatants. Production took place entirely on location in , , where Nguyen and his team navigated logistical challenges to capture authentic environments. For the lead role of Komona, he cast non-professional actress Rachel Mwanza, discovered through open casting calls in the region, whose raw performance anchored the film's emotional core. The film's premiere in the at the marked Nguyen as the first Canadian director in 13 years to achieve this, leading to subsequent screenings at and broader international distribution deals that elevated his global profile. Building on this success, Nguyen continued writing and directing his subsequent features, often incorporating personal scripts to delve into human vulnerabilities amid larger conflicts. Two Lovers and a (2016), shot in , , examines a passionate romance between two psychologically scarred individuals in the Arctic wilderness, blending intimate drama with surreal visions. This was followed by Eye on Juliet (2017), which premiered in the Venice Days sidebar at the and explores cross-cultural connection through a Detroit-based drone operator's virtual bond with a young woman fleeing an in , highlighting technology's role in bridging isolation. His most recent feature at the time, The (2018), premiered at the and critiques the high-stakes world of , following two cousins racing to lay a across the U.S. to gain a microseconds advantage, underscoring themes of ambition, technology, and familial tension. Throughout these works, Nguyen's collaborative approach emphasized authentic casting—such as selecting actors like and for their ability to convey inner turmoil—and hands-on screenwriting to maintain narrative cohesion.

Television directing and recent projects

Nguyen's transition to television directing began early in his career but gained momentum following the critical acclaim of War Witch, which broadened his opportunities in episodic formats. His debut in TV came with the 2006 Quebec mini-series La chambre no. 13, a Radio-Canada thriller centered on eerie occurrences in a reputedly haunted hotel. Nguyen directed the episode "Le rat," which unfolds the story of a guest unraveling dark secrets tied to the building's past, emphasizing atmospheric tension through confined spaces and subtle hints. In 2017, Nguyen helmed two pivotal episodes of the CBC psychological crime drama Bellevue, marking his deeper involvement in English-language Canadian television. For season 1, episode 5, "How Do I Remember?," he captured the emotional turmoil of detective Annie Ryder () as she prepares for her daughter Jesse's funeral while probing a disappearance, blending intimate family grief with investigative suspense. The following episode, season 1, episode 6, "The Problem with the Truth," advances the storyline, focusing on Annie's confrontation with buried memories and community secrets, noted for its taut pacing and character-driven revelations. These installments contributed to the series' exploration of and small-town isolation. Nguyen returned to television in 2019 with an episode of the CBC/Netflix adaptation , directing season 3, episode 2, "There Is Something at Work in My Soul Which I Do Not Understand." This installment follows orphan Anne Shirley's quest to uncover her parents' identities amid her evolving sense of self and beliefs, incorporating themes of heritage and emotional growth while integrating Indigenous storylines into the period drama. His direction highlighted the protagonist's introspective journey, using lush visuals to underscore themes of belonging and resilience. More recently, in 2022, Nguyen directed three episodes of the CTV Transplant, showcasing his versatility in high-stakes procedural storytelling. In season 2, episode 9, "Between," the narrative splits focus across emergency patients during a resource-strapped crisis at York Memorial Hospital, emphasizing ethical dilemmas and team dynamics under pressure. 10, "Shadows," draws on Dr. Bashir Hamed's wartime experiences amid extreme weather challenges, heightening the tension of life-saving decisions. For season 3, episode 5, "," Nguyen depicted a doctor's recovery from personal trauma intersecting with patient care worries, delivering a poignant look at in the field. These episodes underscored Nguyen's skill in balancing action-oriented sequences with character depth in the fast-paced TV environment. Nguyen's episodic work illustrates the distinct challenges of television adaptation, where directors must condense narrative arcs into 40-60 minute segments, collaborate extensively with showrunners and writers, and maintain continuity across seasons—contrasting the singular vision and extended timelines of feature films. This format demands quicker pivots to production demands while preserving thematic integrity, as seen in his contributions to ensemble-driven series. In broader industry roles, post his teaching tenure at Concordia University's Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Nguyen has supported Quebec's filmmaking ecosystem through his production company Analog Films, fostering local talent via collaborations on coproductions and emerging projects. Turning to recent endeavors, Nguyen announced Le Sablier in 2025, his ninth feature and a suspenseful adaptation of Édith Blais's 2021 nonfiction book Le sablier: otage au Sahara pendant 450 jours. The story recounts Blais and Luca Tacchetto's 2019 kidnapping by jihadist militants during an overland journey from Spain to Mali, chronicling their 15-month captivity and eventual escape through endurance and hope. Themes of survival, human fragility, and redemption are central, with Marine Johnson starring as Blais. Produced by Pierre Even's Item 7 (Montreal) and Adrià Mones's Fasten Films (Spain) in a Canada-Spain coproduction, the film received Telefilm Canada funding and, in October 2025, support from SODEC; it will be distributed by Les Films Opale. Principal photography is slated for winter 2026 in Quebec and the Canary Islands, with a Canadian release planned for 2026.

Filmography

Feature films

Kim Nguyen directed his first feature film, Le Marais (also known as The Marsh), in 2002. This 85-minute drama stars Gregory Hlady, Paul Ahmarani, and Gabriel Gascon, and follows two social outcasts in 19th-century who discover a corpse in a and attempt to conceal it, only to face suspicion and a lynch mob from local villagers. The film was produced on a low budget through Nguyen's own , with in rural standing in for the Eastern European setting. His second feature, Truffe (2008), is a 75-minute satirical starring , Céline Bonnier, and Pierre Lebeau. The story centers on a Montreal hunter who experiences strange behavioral changes after joining a secretive company exploiting a sudden truffle boom caused by global warming in his neighborhood. Filmed primarily in , it blends humor with environmental themes. War Witch (original French title Rebelle), released in 2012, runs 90 minutes and features newcomer Rachel Mwanza alongside Serge Kanyinda and Ralph Prosper. The film depicts 12-year-old Komona, kidnapped by African rebels to serve as a child soldier, who gains a as a "" due to her prophetic visions amid ongoing conflict. Shot on location in the of Congo and , it marked Nguyen's international breakthrough. In 2016, Nguyen released Two Lovers and a Bear, a 96-minute romantic drama starring Dane DeHaan, Tatiana Maslany, and Rege-Jean Page. It follows two emotionally scarred young people in a remote northern Quebec town who embark on a perilous journey across the Arctic tundra, haunted by personal traumas and a spectral bear. The production was filmed in the harsh Nunavik region to capture authentic winter landscapes. Eye on Juliet (2017) is a 91-minute sci-fi romance starring , Lina El Arabi, and Faycal Zeglat. A lonely drone security operator in the develops a forbidden connection with a young local woman fleeing an , using his technology to aid her escape. Locations included for the North African scenes and 's for desert exteriors. Nguyen's most recent completed feature, , runs 111 minutes and stars , , and . The thriller follows entrepreneurial cousins racing to lay a from to for high-frequency trading advantages, battling natural obstacles and corporate . Filming took place across rural American Midwest sites to depict the high-stakes infrastructure project. Le Sablier (The Hourglass) (TBA) is an upcoming adaptation of Édith Blais' book about survival in extreme conditions. Nguyen is writing and directing the feature, which entered production as announced in May 2025.

Short films

Kim Nguyen began his with a series of short films produced through his company, Shen Studio, which emphasized experimental digital techniques and personal stories. These works, created between 2000 and 2012, allowed him to hone his skills in direction, writing, and production on limited budgets. Soleil glacé (2000)
This 15-minute drama, directed, written, and produced by , follows an immigrant in Montréal who unexpectedly recognizes his brother, believed to be dead, on the street, exploring themes of loss and reunion. The film marked 's debut as a filmmaker and was created using early manipulation methods. No major festival screenings are documented, but it represented his initial creative output.
Le gant (2004)
Nguyen directed and wrote this 8-minute dialogue-free , where the protagonist Hervé, a diminutive man, fantasizes about seducing women and seizes the opportunity when a beautiful coworker, Myriam, drops her . Produced under Shen Studio, it showcased Nguyen's focus on visual storytelling and innovation. The short received limited public screenings but contributed to his growing reputation in Canadian independent cinema.
Denis Marleau (2012)
In this 5-minute documentary short, directed and scripted by Nguyen, he pays tribute to Quebec theater director Denis Marleau through a poetic portrait highlighting his contributions to the performing arts. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with the Canada Council for the Arts, it premiered as part of cultural programming and was praised for its concise, evocative style. The film screened at arts events tied to the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards.
These shorts' emphasis on brevity and visual experimentation laid foundational elements for the magical realism seen in Nguyen's subsequent feature films.

Documentary films

Kim Nguyen contributed to three notable documentary films between 2007 and 2014, exploring themes ranging from poetic reflections on human emotion to social welfare issues and sensory perception. Happiness Bound (2007) is a collective documentary anthology inspired by 21 poems on happiness by Quebec poet Gaston Miron, delving into themes of joy, hope, despair, and human connection through cinematic interpretations. Nguyen served as one of 11 co-directors, alongside filmmakers including Denis Villeneuve and Marcel Simard, and also contributed as director of photography, vision mixer, and compositor; produced by the National Film Board of Canada, the film merges poetry with visual storytelling to evoke emotional landscapes. Blush of Fruit (2012) examines the life and controversies surrounding Tong Phuoc Phuc, a Vietnamese man who operates an providing shelter to expectant mothers to prevent abortions, amid allegations of and neglect despite official praise. Nguyen acted as producer on the project, which was directed by Jakeb Anhvu and highlights social issues in Vietnamese child welfare and community support systems. The Empire of Scents (Le Nez) (2014) offers a sensory exploration of olfaction's role in , desire, , and , featuring segments on , chefs, and creators to illustrate the profound impact of smell on . Directed and written by Nguyen, the film marks his solo directorial debut in the documentary format, blending scientific insights with hedonistic narratives in a 84-minute production.

Television episodes

Nguyen directed his first episode for the Canadian mini-series La chambre no. 13, marking his transition from short films to episodic television.

La chambre no. 13 (2006)

  • Episode 9: "Le rat", aired May 28, 2006; director.

Bellevue (2017)

  • Season 1, Episode 5: "How Do I Remember?", aired March 20, 2017; director.
  • Season 1, Episode 6: "The Problem with the Truth", aired March 27, 2017; director.

Anne with an E (2019)

  • Season 3, Episode 2: "There Is Something at Work in My Soul Which I Do Not Understand", aired September 29, 2019; director.

Transplant (2022)

  • Season 2, Episode 9: "Between", aired March 8, 2022; director.
  • Season 2, Episode 10: "Shadows", aired March 15, 2022; director.
  • Season 3, Episode 5: "Nadir", aired October 21, 2022; director.

Awards and nominations

Academy and international awards

Kim Nguyen's film War Witch (2012) earned an Award nomination for Best Film in 2013, marking a significant milestone in his international recognition as Canada's official entry in the category. At the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival, War Witch received the Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature, highlighting Nguyen's poignant depiction of child soldiers in the . The film also garnered a Special Mention from the Ecumenical Jury at the 2012 , praising its ethical exploration of war's impact on youth. In 2017, Nguyen's Eye on Juliet won the Fedeora Award for Best Film at the Venice Days section of the , awarded by the Federation of Film Critics of and the Mediterranean for its innovative take on cross-cultural romance amid geopolitical tensions.

Canadian awards

Kim Nguyen's film War Witch (known as Rebelle in French) achieved significant recognition at the inaugural in 2013, where it secured 10 wins out of 12 nominations, including Best Achievement in Direction and Best Original Screenplay for Nguyen. The film also won Best Motion Picture, highlighting Nguyen's contributions to Canadian cinema. At the 15th Jutra Awards, Quebec's provincial honors for film, War Witch dominated with eight wins from ten nominations, including Best Director and Best Screenplay for Nguyen, as well as Best Film. These victories underscored the film's impact within Quebec's industry. Nguyen's later work Two Lovers and a Bear (2016) earned him two nominations at the 2017 Prix Iris (the rebranded Jutra Awards), for Best Director and Best Screenplay. Overall, Nguyen's films have amassed over 20 nominations across Canadian national and provincial awards throughout his career.

References

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