Philippe Lesage

Born and raised in Canada, Philippe Lesage pursued an interest in literature at his native country's prestigious McGill University, before traveling to Denmark to study film at the European Film College. At first, Lesage focused on documentary filmmaking, making his directorial debut with "Pourrons-nous vivre ensemble?" (2006), exploring youth culture in an economically split Parisian neighborhood. He continued to develop thoughtful documentary projects, lending focus to the emergency ward of Montreal's Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in "The Heart that Beats" (2010), and taking an existential journey through the suburbs of Beijing, China in "How Can You Tell If the Little Fish Are Happy?" (2010). Lesage ultimately tried his hand at feature directing and screenwriting with the coming-of-age horror film "The Demons" (2015). The film, which focused on a cast of Canadian adolescents experiencing paranormal phenomena together, debuted at the Donostia-San Sebastián International Film Festival. Shortly afterward, Lesage directed the autobiographical dramedy "Copenhagen: A Love Story," in which he also played a role.