05/07/2026
π¬ Mein Surname
Director's description ( Adam Cowie ):
Mein Surname was made to explore the tension between identity and performative goodness. On the surface, it's a comedy built on awkward encounters, over the top reactions and social discomfort. Beneath that, it's about a man searching for purpose and belonging in a world that's already made its mind up.
David J. Hi**er is hell-bent on proving he's a good person. His refusal to shed the surname, paired with his need to be seen as virtuous (even though he's a bit of a dick), creates a constant state of contradiction. That friction fuels the comedy, but it also expresses a desperation and stubbornness to be accepted on your own terms.
While the film leans into on the nose humour and uncomfortable laughs, it's kept grounded by Carmichael's performance, which keeps David (somewhat) sincere even when his actions veer into the absurd.
The result is a portrait of someone trying and often failing to define himself beyond a label he never chose. Ultimately my hopes for the film are that it makes you laugh and makes you think.
π LHIFF 2026 Awards:
π Grand Prix
π Best Comedy
π Audience Award
π¬ Jury Comment ( Alex Lev ):
"Mein Surname": A Comedy About a Name You Can't Outrun. The film's central conflict β a surname that becomes an insurmountable obstacle to ordinary existence β is handled with wit and surprising precision. This isn't just a personal drama; it's a universal statement about how labels and other people's expectations shape our identity before we ever get the chance to speak for ourselves. And here the film offers a genuinely wise way out: the only way to survive a situation like this is to accept the absurdity of it and laugh along with it. I think the director's hopes were fulfilled: the film made us think, and it made us laugh.
