{{Infobox film | name = Death Does Not Exist | native_name = {{infobox name module|fr|La mort n'existe pas}} | image = | alt = | caption = | director = Félix Dufour-Laperrière | producer = Félix Dufour-Laperrière<br>Nicolas Dufour-Laperrière<br>Pierre Baussaron<br>Emmanuel-Alain Raynal | writer = Félix Dufour-Laperrière | starring = Karelle Tremblay<br>Barbara Ulrich<br>Zeneb Blanchet<br>Mattis Savard-Verhoeven<br>Irène Dufour | music = Jean L'Appeau | cinematography = | editing = | studio = Embuscade Films<br>Miyu | distributor = Maison 4:3<br>UFO Distribution<br>Best Friend Forever | released = {{Film date|2025|5|15|Cannes}} | runtime = 72 minutes | country = Canada<br>France | language = French | budget = | gross = }} '''''Death Does Not Exist''''' ({{langx|fr|La mort n'existe pas}}) is a 2025 animated drama film written and directed by Félix Dufour-Laperrière.<ref name=laplante>Coralie Laplante, [https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/cinema/867799/anne-emond-felix-dufour-laperriere-selection-quinzaine-cineastes-cannes? "Anne Émond et Félix Dufour-Laperrière seront de la Quinzaine des cinéastes à Cannes"]. ''Le Devoir'', April 15, 2025.</ref>
==Summary== The film centres on Hélène, an activist who abandons her colleagues after they fail in an armed attack against a wealthy target; isolated in the wilderness, she becomes haunted by Manon, a former member of the group who challenges Hélène to reconsider her values and convictions.<ref name=keslassy>Elsa Keslassy, [https://variety.com/2024/film/global/annecy-work-in-progress-death-does-not-exist-best-friend-forever-1236030564/ "Annecy’s Work-in-Progress Title ‘Death Does Not Exist’ Boarded by Best Friend Forever"]. ''Variety'', June 10, 2024.</ref>
==Production== The film's voice cast includes Karelle Tremblay, Barbara Ulrich, Zeneb Blanchet, Mattis Savard-Verhoeven and Irène Dufour.<ref name=keslassy/>
==Release== An excerpt from the film was screened as a work in progress at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.<ref name=keslassy/> The full film had its world premiere at the Directors Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2025.<ref name=baughan>Nikki Baughan, [https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/death-does-not-exist-review-animation-follows-young-activists-into-battle/5204570.article "‘Death Does Not Exist’ review: Animation follows young activists into battle"]. ''Screen Daily'', May 15, 2025.</ref>
==Reception== Nikki Baughan of ''Screen Daily'' wrote that "there is a hallucinogenic quality to the painstakingly hand-drawn two-dimensional animation, whose simple appearance belies a wealth of detail. He uses a muted palette with pops of colour, and, while Hélène takes on the solid hues of her surroundings, Manon and Marc appear as ethereal outlines, blurring the boundary between character and backdrop."<ref name=baughan/>
For ''That Shelf'', Courtney Small wrote that "arguably one of the most stunning animated works in recent years, there is much to like in this film. ''Death Does Not Exist'' may not provide answers to the questions it contemplates, but Dufour-Laperrière at least wants the viewers to get the conversation started. Most of us may not be afforded second chances like Hélène, but that doesn’t mean we cannot make the most of the one we have now. As the film alludes, the worst thing one can do in the face of inequality is nothing, which is a different type of murder.<ref>Courtney Small, [https://thatshelf.com/fantasia-2025-death-does-not-exist-review-activism-in-vivid-colour/ "Fantasia 2025: Death Does Not Exist Review: Activism in Vivid Colour"]. ''That Shelf'', July 24, 2025.</ref>
==Accolades== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Award / Film Festival ! scope="col"| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| Annecy International Animation Film Festival | rowspan="2"| 14 June 2025 | Cristal Award for Best Feature Film | ''Death Does Not Exist'' | {{nom}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/annecy-2025-lineup-1236196030/|title=Annecy Unveils 2025 Lineup (Full List)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Scott|last=Roxborough|date=23 April 2025|accessdate=23 April 2025}}</ref> |- | Pablo Pico Distinction | Jean L'Appeau | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/annecy-winners-arco-endless-cookie-night-boots-1236431471/|title='Arco' Takes Annecy's Top Prize, 'Endless Cookie' Wins Contrechamp and 'The Night Boots' Scoops Best Short as Filmmakers Address Conflict in the Middle East|website=Variety|first=Jamie|last=Lang|date=14 June 2025|accessdate=15 June 2025}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Ottawa International Animation Festival | 27 September 2025 | Best Feature Film | ''Death Does Not Exist'' | {{won}} | align="center"| <ref>[https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/09/death-does-not-exist-the-puppet-and-the-whale-win-top-prizes-at-oiaf-2025/ "‘Death Does Not Exist’ & ‘The Puppet and the Whale’ Win Top Prizes at OIAF 2025"]. ''Animation Magazine'', September 27, 2025.</ref> |- ! scope="row"| Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma | 2026 | Prix Luc-Perreault | Félix Dufour-Laperrière | {{nom}} | align="center"| <ref>Charles-Henri Ramond, [https://www.filmsquebec.com/finalistes-prix-luc-perreault-aqcc-2025/ "Finalistes du Prix Luc Perreault/AQCC 2025"]. ''Films du Québec'', January 7, 2026.</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|32583148}} {{Félix Dufour-Laperrière}}
Category:2025 films Category:2025 animated films Category:Canadian animated feature films Category:Canadian animated drama films Category:French animated feature films Category:French animated drama films Category:French-language Canadian films Category:2020s Canadian animated films Category:2020s French animated films Category:2025 Canadian films Category:Annecy Cristal–winning films