Exotica's entire early life took place on the festival circuit. Its world debut was at the Cannes International Film Festival, where it won the highly prestigious International Film Critics Award. From there it journeyed to Atom Egoyan's home town to have its North American premiere at The Toronto International Film Festival and two months later its U.S. premiere occurred at The New York Film Festival. Bruce Greenwood attended the Cannes festivities but was unable to be present at any others.  In addition to the festivals covered below, the movie was shown at the Viennale, Rotterdam, Locarno, London, Taipai, Cancun, Thessaloniki, Budapest and Mill Valley Festivals.