High Tension premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8 in 2003.
After screening at the festival, the film was purchased by Lionsgate Films. Following the acquisition, Lionsgate re-dubbed the film in English, re-edited it to secure an R-rating, and then spent $14 million for a wide release in the United States almost 2 years later.
In her book Films of the New French Extremity, Alexandra West described The screening of High Tension at TIFF's "Midnight Madness" made that section of the film festival an "unintentional bastion for New French Extremity," which still did not have a popular following. Following High Tensions's release there, other films followed at the festival, such as Calvaire, Sheitan, Frontier(s), Inside, and Martyrs.
