The film was first shown at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and was nominated for the Palme d'Or. "Adoration" won "Best Canadian Feature Film – Special Jury Citation" at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. The film had its U.S. premiere in April 2009 at the San Francisco International Film Festival, and went into U.S. release on May 8, 2009.