Skip to main content
Salem on the Road film image; woman wearing pink fuzzy sleep mask

Salem on the Road

Salem sur la route

VIFF Short Forum

World Premiere

While experiencing a major depersonalization episode, Salem embarks on a solo cycling journey across the Gaspé Peninsula with the intent of ending her life.

 

Supported by

    

Community Partner

Director
Cast

Lyna Khellef, Rémi Goulet, Stéphane Breton, Étienne Galloy

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2024

Language

In French with English subtitles

Film Contact
Content Warning

Self harm

18+
19 min
Drama Shorts

Credits & Director

Producer

Étienne Galloy, Laura Michaud

Screenwriter

Étienne Galloy, Lyna Khellef

Cinematography

Barry Russell

Editor

Laurent Ouellette

Original Music

Jean-Raphaël Côté

Art Director

Laurence Girard, Étienne Galloy, Lyna Khellef, Laura Michaud

Étienne Galloy headshot; Salem on the Road director

Étienne Galloy

Étienne Galloy is one of the youngest winners of Telefilm Canada’s Talents en vue program. He co-wrote, co-directed and co-produced his first feature film The Marina (2019) and is distributed by Les Films Opales in 2021, now available on the CRAVE platform. Étienne has also directed and produced several short films, including I am in love with my memories (2021), that won several festival awards. His next short film Salem on the Road (2024) will premiere at the 43rd Vancouver International Film Festival.

 

Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre

Nino

Dir. Pauline Locquès
97 min

Québécois actor Théodore Pellerin gives a quietly devastating performance as a young man shocked to learn he has throat cancer.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Emergence: Women in the Storm

Dir. Velcrow Ripper & Nova Ami
85 min

Stories of resistance and recovery, courage, creativity and community in the face of the climate emergency gleaned from women first responders and those impacted in Western Canada, particularly Lytton and the Fraser Valley.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Dir. Eliza Hittman
101 min

In Eliza Hittman's powerful slice of social realism, 17-year-old Autum is unable to get an abortion without parental consent in Pennsylvania. She persuades her bff Skylar (Talia Ryder) to come with her to New York where she hopes it will be easier...

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Muzizi

Dir. Jamila Pomeroy
84 min

From the director of the award-winning film Union Street, Jamila Pomeroy, Muzizi embarks on a great culinary adventure through Vancouver’s African diasporic culinary scene. Muzizi explores powerful stories of immigration, resilience, and joy.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

2026 Oscar® Shorts (Documentary)

Dir. Various
157 min

Don't come to the program of Oscar®-nominated documentary shorts for escapism. But let's talk about the Canadian contender, Perfectly a Strangeness, featuring an abandoned observatory and three donkeys. More of this, please.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes

Dir. Jenn Strom
82 min

A beautiful portrait of E.J. Hughes, who quietly helped reshape the artistic landscape of British Columbia in the 20th century. This extraordinary documentary explores Hughes’s legacy not only as an artist, but as a devoted, humble human being.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre