In this in-depth Case Study session, writer and director Xiaodan He will walk audiences through the complete creative journey of her feature film Montreal, Ma Belle – from the initial spark of the idea to bringing the film to the screen. Drawing on her experience working across cultures and industries, Xiaodan will unpack how the story was conceived, developed, and shaped through the realities of production.
The session will explore key creative and practical decisions made during writing, financing, casting, and shooting, with particular attention to working within Quebec and Canadian funding structures. Xiaodan will also share insights into post-production, festival strategy, and the challenges and opportunities of marketing and distribution for independent films, especially those created by immigrant and minority filmmakers.
Designed for filmmakers, producers, students, and anyone interested in the life cycle of an independent film, this case study offers a rare, candid look at how a personal vision becomes a finished feature!
About the Speaker:
Xiaodan He is a Montreal-based Chinese-Canadian filmmaker who studied film production at the Beijing Film Academy in China. She immigrated to Canada in 2002 and founded Red Dawn Productions in 2013. Since then, five of her fiction and documentary feature projects have received institutional financing for development or production.
Her works include The Dance of the Star (fiction, 80 min), Cairo Calling (fiction, 10 min), The Fall of Womenland (documentary, 50 min), A Touch of Spring (feature, 82 min), and My Father’s Journey (documentary, 78 min). Xiaodan He is the first Chinese immigrant director and producer to receive governmental grants in both Quebec and Canada for a feature film.
Red River College Exchange District – A104 Lecture Theatre
A104 Lecture Theatre at the Exchange District Campus of Red River College – The Roblin Centre
RRC – The Roblin Centre
160 Princess St.
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 1K9
April 30, 2026, 7:00 – 9:00 PM CDT