War Witch

{{Infobox film

| name = War Witch

| native_name = {{infobox name module|fr|Rebelle}}

| image = Rebelle (2012 film).jpg

| caption = Film poster

| director = Kim Nguyen

| producer = Pierre Even
Marie-Claude Poulin

| writer = Kim Nguyen

| starring = {{unbulleted list|Rachel Mwanza|Serge Kanyinda|Alain Lino Mic Eli Bastien}}

| cinematography = Nicolas Bolduc

| editing = Richard Comeau

| distributor = Métropole Films

| released = {{Film date|2012|2|17|Berlin|2012|10||Canada|df=yes}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

| country = Canada

| language = French
Lingala

| gross = $70,544{{cite web|url= http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=warwitch.htm |title= War Witch: Box Office Mojo |access-date= 8 April 2013 |work= Box Office Mojo}}

}}

War Witch ({{langx|fr|Rebelle|lit=Rebel}}) is a 2012 Canadian war drama written and directed by Kim Nguyen and starring Rachel Mwanza, Alain Lino Mic Eli Bastien and Serge Kanyinda. It is about a child soldier forced into a civil war in Africa, and who is believed to be a witch. The film was primarily shot in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in French and Lingala.

After premiering at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival, the film received positive reviews. It won several honours, including ten at the 1st Canadian Screen Awards, notably Best Motion Picture. War Witch was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Plot

During a civil war in sub-Saharan Africa, a 12-year-old girl named Komona is abducted by a rebel group who raided her village to become a child soldier under a warlord known as the Great Tiger. The rebels compel Komona to kill her own parents. Then, she is sailed to a deserted island with many more children. They are used as porters, then taught to use automatic weapons and forced to go to war with the rebels. After drinking tree sap, she begins to experience vivid hallucinations. When her visions enable her to survive an attack, she is considered to be a child witch and is viewed as an asset by the Great Tiger.

Komona and her young love interest, a boy with albinism known as Magician, eventually escape the rebels and move to live with her uncle. He hopes to marry her, and she asks him to capture a rare white rooster to secure her agreement. He does so but she is tracked down and kidnapped by one of the Great Tiger's commanders, and Magician is killed. After Komona becomes the commander's concubine, she kills him and runs away to her uncle, narrating her life story to her fetus. On the way to her hometown, to bury her parents who have been haunting her, she gives birth to a baby boy whom she names after the magician.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Rachel Mwanza as Komona
Alain Lino Mic Eli Bastien as Commandant-rebelle
Serge Kanyinda as Magician
Mizinga Mwinga as Grand Tigre Royal
Ralph Prosper as Boucher
Jean Kabuya as School camp coach
Jupiter Bokondji as Royal Tiger sorcerer
Starlette Mathata as Komona's mother
Alex Herabo as Komona's father
Dole Malalou as Coltan dealer
Karim Bamaraki as Biker

}}

Production

File:Kim Nguyen (cropped).jpg wrote the screenplay after reading about child soldiers in Burma.]]

Montreal director Kim Nguyen wrote the screenplay over a period of 10 years, inspired by an article about children in Burma leading a rebellion force.{{cite news |last=Ahearn |first=Victoria |date=20 September 2012 |title='Rebelle' film shows paradoxes of child soldiers as well as its Congolese star |publisher=The Canadian Press}} In researching the film, Nguyen met real child soldiers and humanitarian staff. He envisioned his project as "a redemption story about a child who lives through war and peace."{{cite news |last=Goldmann |first=A.J. |date=17 February 2012 |title=An African child soldier's violent tale of redemption |publisher=The Toronto Star |page=E6}}

War Witch was primarily filmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.{{cite web |title=Rebelle |url=http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2012/rebelle |publisher=Tiff.net |access-date=11 January 2013 |archive-date=4 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104215911/http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/tiff/2012/rebelle |url-status=dead }} Nguyen discovered Rachel Mwanza and numerous other child actors for his cast in Kinshasa, DRC, after open auditions.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/kim-nguyen-s-war-witch-captures-child-soldier-s-strife-1.2922267 |title=Kim Nguyen's 'War Witch' captures child soldier's strife |last=Power |first=Tom |date=2012 |access-date=28 March 2017 |work=CBC Radio}}{{cite news |last=Ahearn |first=Victoria |date=13 September 2012 |title='Rebelle' star not living a 'fairytale,' despite accolades, says director |publisher=The Canadian Press}} Mwanza had never acted before, and was 15 by September 2012. Nguyen said that "Rachel was living in the streets before we did the film".{{cite web|url= https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/interview-canadian-director-kim-nguyen-talks-foreign-oscar-nominee-war-witch-199214/ |title= Interview: Canadian Director Kim Nguyen Talks Foreign Oscar Nominee 'War Witch' |first= Beth |last= Hanna |work= IndieWire |date= February 28, 2013 |access-date= October 8, 2023 |archive-date= October 8, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231008144600/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/interview-canadian-director-kim-nguyen-talks-foreign-oscar-nominee-war-witch-199214/ |url-status=live}} Besides the novice Congolese actors, professional Canadian actors joined the cast.{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/film-us-berlinale-congodemocratic-idINTRE81G0NF20120217 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512031742/http://in.reuters.com/article/film-us-berlinale-congodemocratic-idINTRE81G0NF20120217 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 May 2017 |title=New film shows African conflict through eyes of girl |last=Collett-White |first=Mike |date=17 February 2012 |access-date=11 May 2017 |work=Reuters}}

Most of War Witch was filmed in the order of the story. It was only the second film shot in the DRC in 25 years, and due to security concerns, the crew was accompanied by soldiers with AK-47s, and insurance was challenging to obtain.{{cite news |last=Wyatt |first=Nelson |date=17 February 2012 |title=First Canadian in 13 years vying for Berlin's top film prize at Berlinale |publisher=The Canadian Press}}{{cite web|url= https://archive.nytimes.com/carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/needing-an-armed-convoy-to-make-a-film/ |title= Needing an Armed Convoy to Make a Film |first= Larry |last=Rohter |work= The New York Times |date= February 7, 2013 |access-date= October 8, 2023 |archive-date= October 8, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231008144514/https://archive.nytimes.com/carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/needing-an-armed-convoy-to-make-a-film/ |url-status=live}}

Release

The film had its debut at the Berlin International Film Festival on 17 February 2012, where it was seen by 1,500 people. Nguyen became the first Canadian to compete for the Silver Bear in 13 years. In the spring, it played in North America for the first time at the Tribeca Film Festival.{{cite magazine |last=Cox |first=Gordon |date=14 June 2012 |title='War Witch' to Tribeca |magazine=Daily Variety |page=4}} It also screened from 14 to 15 September at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/tiff-mini-reviews-m-to-s |title=TIFF mini reviews: M to S |last=J.K.G. |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=29 March 2017 |work=National Post}}

It had a limited release in Toronto and Ottawa on 21 September 2012. At Tribeca, distribution rights were sold for the United States.

Reception

=Critical response=

File:Rachel Mwanza (cropped).jpg received positive reviews and awards for her performance.]]

War Witch has a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 63 reviews, and an average rating of 8/10. The website's critical consensus states: "War Witch is a mature, intense drama that embraces the bruatlity{{sic}} of its subject and invites the audience to sympathize with its protagonist's nightmarish circumstances".{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/war_witch/ |title=War Witch (2013) |access-date=28 July 2018 |work=Rotten Tomatoes}} It also has a score of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 16 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/war-witch|title=War Witch|website=Metacritic}}

Guy Dixon, writing for The Globe and Mail, gave the film three stars, saying it transcended war films and Rachel Mwanza gave a great performance.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/film-reviews/rebelle-far-more-than-a-war-film/article4557349/ |title=Rebelle: Far more than a war film |last=Dixon |first=Guy |date=21 September 2012 |access-date=28 March 2017 |work=The Globe and Mail}} The National Post rated it three stars, declaring it "a film you won’t be able to look away from no matter how hard you want to". Jay Stone of The Winnipeg Free Press assessed the film as "harrowing" with "strikingly authentic performances", including from Mwanza.{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Jay |date=11 January 2013 |title=Horror, humanity and magic in blood-soaked African jungle |newspaper=The Winnipeg Free Press |page=D6}}

Stephen Holden's The New York Times review complimented the film for its portrayal of Komona, lacking luridness or smugness.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/movies/war-witch-directed-by-kim-nguyen.html |title=Atrocities, Through a Child's Eyes |last=Holden |first=Stephen |date=28 February 2013 |access-date=28 March 2017 |work=The New York Times}} In Variety, Leslie Felperin said the treatment was appropriately "harrowing" for the topic, and positively reviewed Nguyen's aptitude.{{cite magazine |last=Felperin |first=Leslie |date=27 February 2012 |title=War Witch |magazine=Variety |volume=426 |issue=3 |page=62 }} The Boston Globe's Ty Burr assessed it as "grim yet clear-eyed, and it seeks out glimmers of hope in individual resilience and in the connections that bind us together".{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2013/03/27/grim-war-witch-foresees-some-hope |title=Grim 'War Witch' foresees some hope |last=Burr |first=Ty |date=27 March 2013 |access-date=29 March 2017 |work=The Boston Globe}}

In The Hollywood Reporter, Deborah Young hailed it as an "extraordinary story".{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/war-witch-berlin-film-review-292449 |title=War Witch: Berlin Film Review |last=Young |first=Deborah |date=17 February 2012 |access-date=11 May 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}} University of Berlin film scholar Claudia Kotte wrote War Witch, with Incendies (2010), Monsieur Lazhar (2011) and Inch'Allah (2012), represent a break from focus in the Cinema of Quebec on local history to more global concerns.{{cite book |last=Kotte |first=Claudia |chapter=Zero Degrees of Separation: Post-Exilic Return in Denis Villeneuve's Incendies |date=2015 |title=Cinematic Homecomings |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |page=288 }}

=Accolades=

The film was Canada's entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 85th Academy Awards.{{cite web|url= http://www.telefilm.ca/en/news/releases/2012/09/18/telefilm-canada-announces-kim-nguyen-s-war-witch-rebelle-canada-s-selection |title= Telefilm Canada announces that Kim Nguyen's War Witch (Rebelle) is Canada's selection for the Best Foreign Language Oscar |work=Telefilm Canada |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=18 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017171929/http://www.telefilm.ca/en/news/releases/2012/09/18/telefilm-canada-announces-kim-nguyen-s-war-witch-rebelle-canada-s-selection |archive-date=17 October 2013}}
{{cite news |url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/kim-nguyens-rebelle-war-witch-is-canadas-oscar-submission-for-best-foreign-language-film |title=Kim Nguyen's Rebelle (War Witch) is Canada's Oscar submission for best foreign language film |last=Dunlevy |first=T'cha | date= 18 September 2012 |access-date= 18 September 2012 |work=The Montreal Gazette}} It was a rare Canadian submission for featuring a substantial amount of Lingala as well as French.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/canada-oscars-pick-1.3775950 |title=Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World to be Canada's Oscar foreign-language film submission |last=Wong |first=Jessica |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=3 January 2017 |work=CBC News}} It was among nine shortlisted in December 2012,{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20121221.html |title=9 Foreign Language Films Vie For Oscar |access-date=21 December 2012 |work=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230211459/http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2012/20121221.html |archive-date=30 December 2012}} and became one of the five nominees.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20959604 |title= Oscars: Hollywood announces 85th Academy Award nominations |access-date=28 March 2017 |work= BBC News|date= 10 January 2013 }} Mwanza received a visa to allow her to attend the Academy Awards.{{cite web |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21531291 |title=Oscars 2013: Congolese War Witch hopeful gets US visa |date=21 February 2013 |access-date=29 March 2017 |work= BBC News}} It was the third consecutive Quebec film nominated, following Incendies and Monsieur Lazhar, with Nguyen proclaiming "People around the world are looking at Quebec cinema now and waiting for the next director to come out of here. This has a tremendous impact on a country’s recognition outside of its borders".{{Cite web|url=http://arts.nationalpost.com/2013/01/10/canadian-director-kim-nguyen-on-his-oscar-nomination-for-war-witch-rebelle-were-clearly-the-underdog/ |title=Canadian director Kim Nguyen on his Oscar nomination for War Witch (Rebelle): 'We're clearly the underdog' |last=Knight |first=Chris |date=10 January 2013 |access-date=6 August 2013 |work=National Post}}

The film was in competition for the Golden Bear at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in February 2012.{{cite web|url= http://www.cinoche.com/actualites/rebelle-de-kim-nguyen-en-premiere-mondiale-a-berlin/index.html |title= Rebelle de Kim Nguyen en première mondiale à Berlin |date= 20 January 2012 |access-date= 20 January 2012 |work= cinoche}}
{{cite web|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bel-ami-robert-pattinson-uma-thurman-world%20premiere-berlin-283532 |title= 'Bel Ami' With Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman Gets World Premiere in Berlin |date=20 January 2012 |access-date=20 January 2012 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122195126/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bel-ami-robert-pattinson-uma-thurman-world%20premiere-berlin-283532? |archive-date=22 January 2012}} It also triumphed at the 1st Canadian Screen Awards, which replaced the Genie Awards that year in honouring Canadian film.{{cite episode |title=The movie 'War Witch' was the main winner of the Canadian Screen Awards |series=The National |last1=Mesley |first1=Wendy |last2=Nathoo |first2=Zulekha |network=CBC Television |date=3 March 2013}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col"\| Award ! scope="col"\| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"\| Category ! scope="col"\| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"\| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|References}}
scope="row" \| Academy Awards \| 24 February 2013 \| Best Foreign Language Film \| Kim Nguyen \| {{nom}} \|style="text-align:center;" \|
scope="row" rowspan=2\| Berlin International Film Festival \| rowspan="2" \| 9–19 February 2012 \| Silver Bear for Best Actress \| Rachel Mwanza \| {{won}} \|style="text-align:center;" \| {{cite web\|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/preise_internationale_jury/index.html \|title= Prizes of the International Jury 2012 \|date=19 February 2012 \|access-date=19 February 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228195141/http://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/preise_internationale_jury/index.html \|archive-date= 28 February 2012 \|work= Berlinale}}
Ecumenical Jury Special Mention \| War Witch \| {{won}} \|style="text-align:center;" \|
scope="row"\| Cambridge Film Festival \| 13–23 September 2012 \| Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature \| Kim Nguyen \| {{won}} \|style="text-align:center;" \| {{cite web\|url= https://www.screendaily.com/festivals/war-witch-wins-audience-award-at-cambridge-film-festival/5047156.article \|title= War Witch wins audience award at Cambridge Film Festival \|first= Ian \|last= Sandwell \|work= Screen International \|date= September 28, 2012 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010142123/https://www.screendaily.com/festivals/war-witch-wins-audience-award-at-cambridge-film-festival/5047156.article \|url-status=live}}
scope="row" rowspan=12\| Canadian Screen Awards \| rowspan="12" \| 3 March 2013 \| Best Motion Picture \| Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin \| {{won}} \|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="12" \| {{cite web\|url= https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/canadian-screen-awards-raises-the-star-wattage/article_1c7664c9-bf2d-5c91-8b16-fcd969794e9a.html \|title= Canadian Screen Awards raises the star wattage \|first= Linda \|last= Barnard \|work= Toronto Star \|date= March 3, 2013 \|access-date= January 15, 2024 \|archive-date= January 15, 2024 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240115134910/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/canadian-screen-awards-raises-the-star-wattage/article_1c7664c9-bf2d-5c91-8b16-fcd969794e9a.html \|url-status=live}} {{cite web\|url= https://macleans.ca/culture/introducing-the-canadian-screen-awards-and-their-2013-nominees/ \|title= Introducing the Canadian Screen Awards, and their 2013 nominees \|first= Brian \|last= D. Johnson \|work= Maclean's \|date= January 15, 2013 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010113229/https://macleans.ca/culture/introducing-the-canadian-screen-awards-and-their-2013-nominees/ \|url-status=live}} {{cite web\|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/war-witch-triumphs-at-canadian-screen-awards-gala-1.1373646 \|title= War Witch triumphs at Canadian Screen Awards gala \|author= CBC News \|work= CBC.ca \|date= March 3, 2013 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010111738/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/war-witch-triumphs-at-canadian-screen-awards-gala-1.1373646 \|url-status=live}} {{cite web\|url= https://www.tribute.ca/news/war-witchs-at-the-first-canadian-screen-awards/2013/03/04/ \|title= War Witch wins at the first Canadian Screen Awards \|author= Tribute \|work= Tribute \|date= March 4, 2013 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010121046/https://www.tribute.ca/news/war-witchs-at-the-first-canadian-screen-awards/2013/03/04/ \|url-status=live}}
Best Director \| rowspan="2" \| Kim Nguyen \| {{won}}
Best Original Screenplay \| {{won}}
Best Actress \| Rachel Mwanza \| {{won}}
Best Supporting Actor \| Serge Kanyinda \| {{won}}
Best Art Direction/Production Design \| Emmanuel Fréchette, Josée Arsenault \| {{won}}
Best Cinematography \| Nicolas Bolduc \| {{won}}
Best Editing \| Richard Comeau \| {{won}}
Best Overall Sound \| Claude La Haye, Daniel Bisson and Bernard Gariépy Strobl \| {{won}}
Best Sound Editing \| Martin Pinsonnault, Jean-François Sauvé, Simon Meilleur and Claire Pochon \| {{won}}
Best Costume Design \| Éric Poirier \| {{nom}}
Best Visual Effects \| Ève Brunet, Marc Morissette and Alexandra Vaillancourt \| {{nom}}
scope="row" \| Independent Spirit Awards \| February 23, 2013 \| Best International Film \| Kim Nguyen \| {{nom}} \|style="text-align:center;" \| {{cite web\|url= https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/2013-spirit-award-nominations-announced/ \|title= 2013 Spirit Award Nominations Announced \|work= Independent Spirit Awards \|date= November 27, 2012 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010140432/https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/2013-spirit-award-nominations-announced/ \|url-status=live}} {{cite web\|url= https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/winners-announced-for-2013-spirit-awards/ \|title= Winners Announced For 2013 Spirit Awards \|work= Independent Spirit Awards \|date= February 23, 2013 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010140421/https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/winners-announced-for-2013-spirit-awards/ \|url-status=live}}
scope="row" rowspan=10\| Jutra Awards \| rowspan="10" \| March 2013 \| Best Film \| Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin \| {{won}} \|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="10" \| {{cite web\|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2013/03/19/kim-nguyens-war-witch-dominates-jutras-in-quebec/ \|title=Kim Nguyen's War Witch dominates Jutras in Quebec \|last=Vlessing \|first=Etan \|date=19 March 2013 \|access-date=28 March 2017 \|work=Playback}}
Best Director \| rowspan="2" \| Kim Nguyen \| {{won}}
Best Screenplay \| {{won}}
Best Actress \| Rachel Mwanza \| {{won}}
Best Supporting Actor \| Serge Kanyinda \| {{won}}
Best Cinematography \| Nicolas Bolduc \| {{won}}
Best Editing \| Richard Comeau \| {{won}}
Best Sound \| Claude La Haye, Martin Pinsonnault and Bernard Gariépy Strobl \| {{won}}
Best Costume Design \| Éric Poirier \| {{nom}}
Best International Motion Picture \| rowspan="2" \| Kim Nguyen \| {{nom}}
scope="row" \| NAACP Image Award \| 21–22 February 2014 \| Outstanding International Motion Picture \| {{won}} \|style="text-align:center;" \| {{cite web\|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/naacp-image-awards-winners-682585\|title= NAACP Image Awards: The Winners \|author= Aaron Couch, Arlene Washington\|date= 22 February 2014\|access-date= 22 February 2014 \|work= The Hollywood Reporter}}
scope="row" rowspan="2" \| Tribeca Film Festival \| rowspan="2" \| April 2012 \| Best Narrative Feature \| Kim Nguyen \| {{won}} \|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" \| {{cite web\|url= https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/war-witch-and-the-world-before-her-take-top-prizes-at-2012-tribeca-film-festival-47814/ \|title= 'War Witch' and 'The World Before Her' Take Top Prizes at 2012 Tribeca Film Festival \|first= Jay \|last= A. Fernandez \|work= IndieWire \|date= April 26, 2012 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010134821/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/war-witch-and-the-world-before-her-take-top-prizes-at-2012-tribeca-film-festival-47814/ \|url-status=live}} {{cite web\|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tribeca-film-fest-crowns-2-canadian-films-1.1245866 \|title= Tribeca film fest crowns 2 Canadian films \|author= CBC News \|work= CBC.ca \|date= Apr 27, 2012 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010134827/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tribeca-film-fest-crowns-2-canadian-films-1.1245866 \|url-status=live}}
Best Actress \| Rachel Mwanza \| {{won}}
scope="row" rowspan=3\| Vancouver Film Critics Circle \| rowspan="3" \| 2013 \| Best Canadian Film \| Kim Nguyen \| {{won}} \|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3" \| {{cite web\|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2013/01/08/beyond-the-black-rainbow-war-witch-win-at-vancouver-critics-awards/ \|title=Beyond the Black Rainbow, War Witch win at Vancouver critics awards \|last=Ng \|first=Danielle \|date=8 January 2013 \|access-date=28 March 2017 \|work=Playback}}
Best Actress in a Canadian Film \| Rachel Mwanza \| {{won}}
Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film \| Serge Kanyinda \| {{won}}
scope="row"\| Vancouver International Film Festival \| September 27–October 12, 2012 \| Best Canadian Feature Film \| Kim Nguyen \| {{nom}} \|style="text-align:center;" \| {{cite web\|url= https://halifax.citynews.ca/2012/09/23/vancouver-international-film-festival-brings-the-world-to-the-west-coast/ \|title= Vancouver International Film Festival brings the world to the West Coast \|author= News Staff \|work= CJNI-FM \|date= September 23, 2012 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010175649/https://halifax.citynews.ca/2012/09/23/vancouver-international-film-festival-brings-the-world-to-the-west-coast/ \|url-status=live}} {{cite web\|url= https://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/vancouver-international-film-festival-opens-today-deepa-mehtas-new-film-mid \|title= Vancouver International Film Festival Opens Today; Deepa Mehta's New Film 'Midnight's Children' Kick \|work= CBC.ca \|date= September 27, 2012 \|access-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-date= October 10, 2023 \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010175701/https://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/vancouver-international-film-festival-opens-today-deepa-mehtas-new-film-mid \|url-status=live}}
scope="row" \| Prix collégial du cinéma québécois \| 2013 \| Best Film \| War Witch \| {{nom}} \|style="text-align:center;" \| [https://voir.ca/nouvelles/actualite-cinematographique/2013/03/26/laurence-anyways-remporte-le-prix-collegial-du-cinema-quebecois/ "LAURENCE ANYWAYS REMPORTE LE PRIX COLLÉGIAL DU CINÉMA QUÉBÉCOIS"]. Voir, March 26, 2013.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Date of ceremony

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| Recipient(s)

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

scope="row" | Academy Awards

| 24 February 2013

| Best Foreign Language Film

| Kim Nguyen

| {{nom}}

|style="text-align:center;" |

scope="row" rowspan=2| Berlin International Film Festival

| rowspan="2" | 9–19 February 2012

| Silver Bear for Best Actress

| Rachel Mwanza

| {{won}}

|style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/preise_internationale_jury/index.html |title= Prizes of the International Jury 2012 |date=19 February 2012 |access-date=19 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228195141/http://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/preise_internationale_jury/index.html |archive-date= 28 February 2012 |work= Berlinale}}

Ecumenical Jury Special Mention

| War Witch

| {{won}}

|style="text-align:center;" |

scope="row"| Cambridge Film Festival

| 13–23 September 2012

| Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature

| Kim Nguyen

| {{won}}

|style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url= https://www.screendaily.com/festivals/war-witch-wins-audience-award-at-cambridge-film-festival/5047156.article |title= War Witch wins audience award at Cambridge Film Festival |first= Ian |last= Sandwell |work= Screen International |date= September 28, 2012 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010142123/https://www.screendaily.com/festivals/war-witch-wins-audience-award-at-cambridge-film-festival/5047156.article |url-status=live}}

scope="row" rowspan=12| Canadian Screen Awards

| rowspan="12" | 3 March 2013

| Best Motion Picture

| Pierre Even, Marie-Claude Poulin

| {{won}}

|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="12" | {{cite web|url= https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/canadian-screen-awards-raises-the-star-wattage/article_1c7664c9-bf2d-5c91-8b16-fcd969794e9a.html |title= Canadian Screen Awards raises the star wattage |first= Linda |last= Barnard |work= Toronto Star |date= March 3, 2013 |access-date= January 15, 2024 |archive-date= January 15, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240115134910/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/canadian-screen-awards-raises-the-star-wattage/article_1c7664c9-bf2d-5c91-8b16-fcd969794e9a.html |url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url= https://macleans.ca/culture/introducing-the-canadian-screen-awards-and-their-2013-nominees/ |title= Introducing the Canadian Screen Awards, and their 2013 nominees |first= Brian |last= D. Johnson |work= Maclean's |date= January 15, 2013 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010113229/https://macleans.ca/culture/introducing-the-canadian-screen-awards-and-their-2013-nominees/ |url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/war-witch-triumphs-at-canadian-screen-awards-gala-1.1373646 |title= War Witch triumphs at Canadian Screen Awards gala |author= CBC News |work= CBC.ca |date= March 3, 2013 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010111738/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/war-witch-triumphs-at-canadian-screen-awards-gala-1.1373646 |url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url= https://www.tribute.ca/news/war-witchs-at-the-first-canadian-screen-awards/2013/03/04/ |title= War Witch wins at the first Canadian Screen Awards |author= Tribute |work= Tribute |date= March 4, 2013 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010121046/https://www.tribute.ca/news/war-witchs-at-the-first-canadian-screen-awards/2013/03/04/ |url-status=live}}

Best Director

| rowspan="2" | Kim Nguyen

| {{won}}

Best Original Screenplay

| {{won}}

Best Actress

| Rachel Mwanza

| {{won}}

Best Supporting Actor

| Serge Kanyinda

| {{won}}

Best Art Direction/Production Design

| Emmanuel Fréchette, Josée Arsenault

| {{won}}

| {{won}}

| {{won}}

| Claude La Haye, Daniel Bisson and Bernard Gariépy Strobl

| {{won}}

Best Sound Editing

| Martin Pinsonnault, Jean-François Sauvé, Simon Meilleur and Claire Pochon

| {{won}}

Best Costume Design

| Éric Poirier

| {{nom}}

Best Visual Effects

| Ève Brunet, Marc Morissette and Alexandra Vaillancourt

| {{nom}}

scope="row" | Independent Spirit Awards

| February 23, 2013

| Best International Film

| Kim Nguyen

| {{nom}}

|style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url= https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/2013-spirit-award-nominations-announced/ |title= 2013 Spirit Award Nominations Announced |work= Independent Spirit Awards |date= November 27, 2012 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010140432/https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/2013-spirit-award-nominations-announced/ |url-status=live}}

{{cite web|url= https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/winners-announced-for-2013-spirit-awards/ |title= Winners Announced For 2013 Spirit Awards |work= Independent Spirit Awards |date= February 23, 2013 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010140421/https://www.filmindependent.org/press-releases/winners-announced-for-2013-spirit-awards/ |url-status=live}}

scope="row" rowspan=10| Jutra Awards

| rowspan="10" | March 2013

| Best Film

| Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin

| {{won}}

|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="10" | {{cite web|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2013/03/19/kim-nguyens-war-witch-dominates-jutras-in-quebec/ |title=Kim Nguyen's War Witch dominates Jutras in Quebec |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=19 March 2013 |access-date=28 March 2017 |work=Playback}}

Best Director

| rowspan="2" | Kim Nguyen

| {{won}}

Best Screenplay

| {{won}}

Best Actress

| Rachel Mwanza

| {{won}}

Best Supporting Actor

| Serge Kanyinda

| {{won}}

Best Cinematography

| Nicolas Bolduc

| {{won}}

Best Editing

| Richard Comeau

| {{won}}

Best Sound

| Claude La Haye, Martin Pinsonnault and Bernard Gariépy Strobl

| {{won}}

Best Costume Design

| Éric Poirier

| {{nom}}

Best International Motion Picture

| rowspan="2" | Kim Nguyen

| {{nom}}

scope="row" | NAACP Image Award

| 21–22 February 2014

| Outstanding International Motion Picture

| {{won}}

|style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/naacp-image-awards-winners-682585|title= NAACP Image Awards: The Winners |author= Aaron Couch, Arlene Washington|date= 22 February 2014|access-date= 22 February 2014 |work= The Hollywood Reporter}}

scope="row" rowspan="2" | Tribeca Film Festival

| rowspan="2" | April 2012

| Best Narrative Feature

| Kim Nguyen

| {{won}}

|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" | {{cite web|url= https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/war-witch-and-the-world-before-her-take-top-prizes-at-2012-tribeca-film-festival-47814/ |title= 'War Witch' and 'The World Before Her' Take Top Prizes at 2012 Tribeca Film Festival |first= Jay |last= A. Fernandez |work= IndieWire |date= April 26, 2012 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010134821/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/war-witch-and-the-world-before-her-take-top-prizes-at-2012-tribeca-film-festival-47814/ |url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tribeca-film-fest-crowns-2-canadian-films-1.1245866 |title= Tribeca film fest crowns 2 Canadian films |author= CBC News |work= CBC.ca |date= Apr 27, 2012 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010134827/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tribeca-film-fest-crowns-2-canadian-films-1.1245866 |url-status=live}}

Best Actress

| Rachel Mwanza

| {{won}}

scope="row" rowspan=3| Vancouver Film Critics Circle

| rowspan="3" | 2013

| Best Canadian Film

| Kim Nguyen

| {{won}}

|style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3" | {{cite web|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2013/01/08/beyond-the-black-rainbow-war-witch-win-at-vancouver-critics-awards/ |title=Beyond the Black Rainbow, War Witch win at Vancouver critics awards |last=Ng |first=Danielle |date=8 January 2013 |access-date=28 March 2017 |work=Playback}}

Best Actress in a Canadian Film

| Rachel Mwanza

| {{won}}

Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film

| Serge Kanyinda

| {{won}}

scope="row"| Vancouver International Film Festival

| September 27–October 12, 2012

| Best Canadian Feature Film

| Kim Nguyen

| {{nom}}

|style="text-align:center;" | {{cite web|url= https://halifax.citynews.ca/2012/09/23/vancouver-international-film-festival-brings-the-world-to-the-west-coast/ |title= Vancouver International Film Festival brings the world to the West Coast |author= News Staff |work= CJNI-FM |date= September 23, 2012 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010175649/https://halifax.citynews.ca/2012/09/23/vancouver-international-film-festival-brings-the-world-to-the-west-coast/ |url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url= https://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/vancouver-international-film-festival-opens-today-deepa-mehtas-new-film-mid |title= Vancouver International Film Festival Opens Today; Deepa Mehta's New Film 'Midnight's Children' Kick |work= CBC.ca |date= September 27, 2012 |access-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-date= October 10, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231010175701/https://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/vancouver-international-film-festival-opens-today-deepa-mehtas-new-film-mid |url-status=live}}

scope="row" | Prix collégial du cinéma québécois

| 2013

| Best Film

| War Witch

| {{nom}}

|style="text-align:center;" | [https://voir.ca/nouvelles/actualite-cinematographique/2013/03/26/laurence-anyways-remporte-le-prix-collegial-du-cinema-quebecois/ "LAURENCE ANYWAYS REMPORTE LE PRIX COLLÉGIAL DU CINÉMA QUÉBÉCOIS"]. Voir, March 26, 2013.