History of Incendies in Timeline

Incendies, directed by Denis Villeneuve, follows twins Jeanne and Simon Marwan as they unravel their deceased mother Nawal's hidden past. Her will sends them on a journey to the Middle East, the land of her birth, to find a brother they never knew existed and a father they believed was dead. Their quest takes them through a war-torn country, uncovering shocking truths about Nawal's life as a prisoner and her involvement in the conflict, including a monstrous revelation about the identity of their brother and father being the same person. The film explores themes of war, identity, family, and the enduring consequences of violence and hate.

1975: Lebanese Civil War Start

In 1975, the Lebanese Civil War began, serving as a backdrop for some of the events depicted in the movie Incendies.

1990: Lebanese Civil War End

In 1990, the Lebanese Civil War ended. The story is based on events that happened during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975 to 1990.

2004: Denis Villeneuve Sees Incendies Play

In 2004, Director Denis Villeneuve first saw Wajdi Mouawad's play Incendies at Théâtre de Quat'Sous in Montreal.

2005: Paradise Now featuring Lubna Azabal

In 2005, Lubna Azabal starred in Paradise Now, leading to her being casted in Incendies.

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March 2009: Principal Photography Begins

Principal photography for Incendies began on 15 March 2009, and the film took 40 days to shoot, of which 15 were spent in Jordan.

2009: Villeneuve Wins Rogers Best Canadian Film Award

In 2009, Villeneuve won the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award for Polytechnique, prior to the success of Incendies.

September 2010: Incendies Premieres at Film Festivals and Release in Quebec

In September 2010, Incendies premiered at the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. On 17 September 2010, it was released in Quebec. It received widespread critical acclaim in Canada and abroad and won numerous awards.

September 2010: Canada's Submission to the Academy Awards

On 22 September 2010, Incendies was selected to represent Canada at the 83rd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

October 2010: Incendies Passes $1 Million at Box Office in Canada

By October 2010, Incendies had passed the $1 million mark at the box office in Canada.

2010: Critical acclaim in Canada

In 2010, Incendies received positive reviews, with Brendan Kelly of The Montreal Gazette calling it a "masterwork". Peter Howell, writing for The Toronto Star, named it the best film of 2010.

2010: Selection for Venice and Telluride Film Festivals

In 2010, Incendies was officially selected to play in the 67th Venice International Film Festival and 2010 Telluride Film Festival.

2010: Incendies film release

In 2010, Incendies, a Canadian tragedy film directed by Denis Villeneuve, was released. The screenplay was co-written by Villeneuve and Valérie Beaugrand-Champagne. The film stars Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, and Rémy Girard.

January 2011: Release in Toronto and Vancouver and selection for Sundance and New Directors/New Films Festival

In January 2011, the film opened in Toronto and Vancouver. It was also selected to play in the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and 2011 New Directors/New Films Festival.

January 2011: Academy Award Nomination

On 19 January 2011, Incendies was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and on 25 January 2011, it received the nomination.

March 2011: Screening in Beirut

In March 2011, Incendies was screened in Beirut, where Villeneuve hoped it would help people reflect on their experiences.

April 2011: Incendies Grosses $4.7 Million in Canada

By the end of April 2011, Incendies had grossed $4.7 million in Canada, with $3 million from Quebec theatres alone.

September 2011: Theatrical Run Completion and Box Office Results

On 29 September 2011, Incendies completed its theatrical run, making $2,071,334 in the U.S.

2011: Academy Award Nomination and Genie Awards

In 2011, Incendies was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It also won eight Genie Awards, including Best Motion Picture.

2011: Critical Reception and Awards Consideration

In 2011, Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half stars, naming it as his favourite to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Stephen Holden of The New York Times named it one of the 10 best films of the year. Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times called it Villeneuve's "best-realized work yet".

2011: Critical acclaim in Canada

In 2011, reviewers Claudia Kotte, Gada Mahrouse, Chantal Maillé and Daniel Salée wrote McCraw and Déry's films, Incendies, Monsieur Lazhar and Inch'Allah, depict Quebec as part of the global village and as accepting minorities, particularly Middle Easterners or "Muslim Others".

2012: Critical acclaim in Canada

In 2012, reviewers Claudia Kotte, Gada Mahrouse, Chantal Maillé and Daniel Salée wrote McCraw and Déry's films, Incendies, Monsieur Lazhar and Inch'Allah, depict Quebec as part of the global village and as accepting minorities, particularly Middle Easterners or "Muslim Others".

2023: Telefilm Canada Digitally Restores Incendies

In 2023, Telefilm Canada announced that Incendies was one of 23 titles selected to be digitally restored under its Canadian Cinema Reignited program.

2025: Readers' Choice List of Best Movies

In 2025, Incendies was voted for the "Readers' Choice" edition of The New York Times' list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century," finishing at number 127.