Details
Union:
Non union
Area of media:
Short Film
Network:
Paid?:
No
Deadline:
July 20, 2026
Shooting starts:
Aug 25, 2026
Shooting finishes:
Aug 25, 2026
Shooting locations:
Montreal, CA
Cities for response:
Montréal
Storyline
A few weeks after revealing to her two best friends that she was in a relationship she
had chosen to keep secret for several months, Catherine receives the long-awaited
visit from Stéphanie. Though Stéphanie is used to walking into her apartment without
knocking, she now waits on the doorstep. This simple gesture already signals that a
balance has been disrupted.
In the privacy of a small apartment, the two women initially try to recapture the
lightheartedness of their friendship. Yet casual conversations, birthday gifts, tea, and
wine quickly become silent witnesses to a growing unease. Stéphanie has come with a
very specific intention: to confront Catherine about what she considers a profound
betrayal.
For Stéphanie, the fact that Catherine hid this romantic relationship calls into question
years of trust. She feels betrayed, convinced that true friendship is based on absolute
transparency. Catherine, for her part, calmly defends her right to keep part of her
private life to herself. She never lied, she asserts; she simply chose not to reveal a story
she wasn’t ready to share.
As their exchange unfolds, the conversation shifts from a disagreement to a
confrontation in which two irreconcilable conceptions of friendship clash. Behind the
accusations of lying, manipulation, and insincerity, deeper wounds emerge: the need to
be recognized, the fear of rejection, and the unseen expectations that shape human
relationships.
As daylight gradually fades, the apartment seems to close in on them. The silences
become as eloquent as the words, and every attempt to understand one another only
widens the gap between them. Neither woman manages to convince the other. The
conflict finds neither resolution nor compromise.
When Stéphanie finally leaves the apartment, their friendship is never officially declared
over. Yet everything suggests that a point of no return has been crossed. All that
remains is an empty glass of wine, a cup of tea that has gone cold, and an unopened
bag of chocolates: the silent traces of a relationship that has broken down not under
the weight of a lie, but under that of two truths impossible to reconcile.
Le Cadeau is a psychological chamber piece that explores the boundaries between
intimacy and transparency, trust and control, and poses a universal question: to what
extent are we obligated to reveal ourselves to those we love in order to be considered
authentic?
had chosen to keep secret for several months, Catherine receives the long-awaited
visit from Stéphanie. Though Stéphanie is used to walking into her apartment without
knocking, she now waits on the doorstep. This simple gesture already signals that a
balance has been disrupted.
In the privacy of a small apartment, the two women initially try to recapture the
lightheartedness of their friendship. Yet casual conversations, birthday gifts, tea, and
wine quickly become silent witnesses to a growing unease. Stéphanie has come with a
very specific intention: to confront Catherine about what she considers a profound
betrayal.
For Stéphanie, the fact that Catherine hid this romantic relationship calls into question
years of trust. She feels betrayed, convinced that true friendship is based on absolute
transparency. Catherine, for her part, calmly defends her right to keep part of her
private life to herself. She never lied, she asserts; she simply chose not to reveal a story
she wasn’t ready to share.
As their exchange unfolds, the conversation shifts from a disagreement to a
confrontation in which two irreconcilable conceptions of friendship clash. Behind the
accusations of lying, manipulation, and insincerity, deeper wounds emerge: the need to
be recognized, the fear of rejection, and the unseen expectations that shape human
relationships.
As daylight gradually fades, the apartment seems to close in on them. The silences
become as eloquent as the words, and every attempt to understand one another only
widens the gap between them. Neither woman manages to convince the other. The
conflict finds neither resolution nor compromise.
When Stéphanie finally leaves the apartment, their friendship is never officially declared
over. Yet everything suggests that a point of no return has been crossed. All that
remains is an empty glass of wine, a cup of tea that has gone cold, and an unopened
bag of chocolates: the silent traces of a relationship that has broken down not under
the weight of a lie, but under that of two truths impossible to reconcile.
Le Cadeau is a psychological chamber piece that explores the boundaries between
intimacy and transparency, trust and control, and poses a universal question: to what
extent are we obligated to reveal ourselves to those we love in order to be considered
authentic?
Roles
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | Catherine | Female 30 - 36 Years old |
Description French speaker. White / Fair skin tone, dark hair. Catherine is a radiant woman whose presence immediately inspires calm. Beautiful without trying to be, she exudes a natural gentleness that spontaneously draws people in and puts others at ease. Her apartment reflects her personality: minimalist, warm, bathed in light, filled with carefully chosen objects, where every detail mirrors her inner world.An artist at heart, deeply spiritual and sensitive, Catherine navigates life with an unshakable faith in humanity. She perceives emotions with great subtlety and believes that relationships can always be guided by dialogue, kindness, and understanding. A therapist by profession, she is a sincere listener with natural empathy. Accustomed to welcoming others’ emotions, she values respect for personal boundaries just as much as respect for each person’s needs. For her, authenticity doesn’t mean revealing verything, but rather being true to oneself. She loves simple moments, deep conversations, and bursts of laughter alike. Behind her gentleness, however, lies a quiet strength. When she feels that her integrity or freedom is being challenged, she becomes surprisingly firm and refuses to compromise on what she believes is right. | ||
| Role type | Role | Gender & Age range |
| Lead | Stéphanie | Female 30 - 36 Years old |
Description French speaker. Open ethnicity, blonde or redhead. Stéphanie is a deeply sensitive, generous, and loyal woman. She loves the people around her intensely and invests a great deal of herself in her relationships. Spiritual as well, she is constantly seeking truth and personal growth. All her life, she has struggled with her body image. Comparisons with Catherine, whose beauty naturally draws attention, have fueled a persistent sense of insecurity within her. This vulnerability subtly influences how she navigates relationships, in which the need to be recognized, chosen, and fully valued plays a significant role. While Stéphanie has a huge heart, she expresses her emotions with an intensity that can sometimes be unsettling. She speaks her mind bluntly, even when her words hurt. For her, calling things by their name is a sign of honesty and courage. She is gradually learning to listen to her needs and assert her boundaries, but this quest for authenticity is sometimes accompanied by a rigidity that leaves little room for nuance. Behind her gentleness lies a darker side: a struggle to cope with doubt, a fear of betrayal, and a need to make clear sense of what she is going through. At the heart of the film, Stéphanie does not set out to cause harm. She is desperately trying to restore a trust she believes is lost, convinced that any genuine relationship requires absolute transparency- | ||