The Cost of Heaven Leads Kingston Canadian Film Festival Winners

The Cost of Heaven leads the winners of the 2026 Kingston Canadian Film Festival. The drama directed by Mathieu Denis won the Playback Prize for Best Film. The Cost of Heaven (aka Gagne ton ciel) offers a quietly effective moral fable about a family man whose aspirations for upward mobility put his livelihood—and loved ones—on the line.

Michèle Stephenson's documentary True North, about the student uprising at Concordia University and the larger backdrop of systemic racism of which it was situated, received a special mention. The two winners represented an overall strong showing for Quebec cinema among the awarded films.

Meanwhile, Éric K. Boulianne's sex farce Follies won the Visual Menace Best First Feature Award, while Xiaodan He's Montreal, My Beautiful won the COGECO People's Choice Award.

KCFF wrapped on Sunday, March 1 after a five-day showcase devoted exclusively to Canadian content.