The 13th LGBTQ+ Afro Film and Arts Festival is here! February 12 – March 12, 2021
Massimadi
is here! at home in streaming is 100% free! on your computer in your pocket in your bed on your TV together ! only for you! full of discoveries ! with exclusive contents! full of surprises!
At home 100% free, starting February 12th!Massimadi
is here! at home in streaming is 100% free! on your computer in your pocket in your bed on your TV together ! only for you! full of discoveries ! with exclusive contents! full of surprises!
The short films of the official selection 2021
About twenty short formats are on the program for this edition!
A queer couple with a stagnating love life mix things up using role play.
Thema 2021Crossroads
A selection of short films at the crossroads of our paths. Presented by Gris Montréal.
A queer couple with a stagnating love life mix things up using role play.
Thema 2021Nos êtres chers
Des films qui nous rapprochent des personnes que nous portons dans nos cœurs ! Présenté par la Coalition des familles LGBT.
Calendar of events
Massimadi 2021
Ok it’s mostly virtual a bit on Zoom… but not boring at all!
All events are in timezone Montréal (EST +5)
Data Thieves: What our archives tell us
11 février – 27 mars 2021
Yannis Davy Guibinga
Virtual and physical exhibition presented by Massimadi and Nigra Iuventa at Never Apart
Boy Wives and Female Husbands
“Boy Wives and Female Husbands” explores the trans and non-binary communities that have existed across the African continent. This series seeks to examine the place these individuals held in their societies and the manners in which they expressed their genders beyond the binary system. Past and present are brought together in this collection to promote positive change by inspiring reflection on how these same communities are currently treated on the African continent and around the world.
Silicone Sunset & Eclectic Identity
“Silicone Sunset” and “Eclectic Identity” are the result of a collaboration between the artist and Montreal designer Olivia Bretheau. Both collections explore the notions of masculinity and femininity through fashion design. In these series, we seek to provide current and future generations with greater fluidity in their identity construction.
2050
“2050” strives to imagine what black women might look like in the future. By exploring issues of identity, femininity and beauty through a futuristic lens, 2050 is a series aimed at showing viewers that black beauty remains timeless.
Data Thieves: Ce que nous transmettent nos archives
11 february – 27 march 2021
Syrus Marcus Ware
Virtual and physical exhibition presented by Massimadi and Nigra Iuventa at Never Apart
Ancestors, Can You Read Us? (Dispatches from the Future)
Toronto-based artist Syrus Marcus Ware imagines a world where racialized people have survived the “Black death spectacle” writ large on the nightly news; survived the catastrophic impact of the Anthropocene; and survived the crushing effects of white supremacy.
Commissioned by the Toronto Biennial of Art 2019, the artist draws on the shared language of speculative fiction and political activism to transform the Salah J. Bachir New Media Wall at Ryerson Image Centre into a portal through which the next generation of racialized activists communicate with us, their ancestors, and offer us insights into the future.
Antarctica
Originally featured as a two-part and multi-site installation at 259 Lake Shore Blvd E (The Toronto Biennial of Art main site) and Ryerson Image Centre’s New Media Wall, Antarctica imagines a world where racialized people have survived the “black death spectacle” writ large on the nightly news; survived the catastrophic impact of the Anthropocene; and survived the crushing effects of white supremacy. Drawing on the shared language of speculative fiction and political activism, Ware creates a portal that takes us to eleven characters in the summer of 2030, each with birthright citizenship to the only habitable place on earth: Antarctica. Their task? To begin terraforming for the new colony.
Art Therapy Workshops : Remembering who we are
All February
Kat Charles
A series of therapeutic workshops
Text and workshops by Kat Charles, art therapist
This therapeutic workshop series is tailored for queer, trans and non-binary black afro-descendants. We will be creating safe and sacred space for us to begin understanding, unravelling and gaining insight into how internalized oppression has impacted our concept of who we are and who we can be.
Through techniques such as improvisation, role-play, we will also be encouraging radical joy as an act of resistance. This therapeutic workshop series is not meant to be a substitute for therapy, but a fertile ground for community and for planting the seeds of a nascent therapeutic journey for all participants.
Model and TRANSmission
19 february 2021 > 7pm EST
Hosted by Alicia Kazobinka
Round table in collaboration with Célébrons les afro-québécoises – CLAQ
Knowledge and talents of black trans women with Elle Barbara, Christopher Marlot et Backxwash
CLAQ presents its first opening panel Model and TRANSmission: knowledge and talent of black trans women. In collaboration with Massimadi, three panelists talk about their experiences as artists, singers and dancers and how they transmit their art to their community.
Alicia Kazobinka
spokesperson for Massimadi, conference speaker and trans rights activist
Hella Comedy Night
21 february 2021 – 5>7pm EST
With Brendon Ash-Mohammed, Cleif Knight, Tamara Shevon (anglophones) and Daphney Joseph, Tahnee, and Mamari (francophones).
Comedy evening hosted by Naila Rabel
Put on your jammies, uncoil your headphones and untape your webcam for Massimadi’s first comedy night!
It’s been a hella of a year for most people on the planet, but if there is something that we’ve learned from living through centuries of colonial nonesense is that the ultimate manifestation of our strenght is our ability to love and laugh in face of adversity.
Watch Facebook Live starts at 5PM
Followed by the speed-dating for black women*
This comedy night is followed by an exciting and exclusive after-party for black queer women* who love women*. That’s right! Being black queer and fam is the gift that keeps giving as we will be holding our first speed dating night hosted by Naila Rabel and Alicia Kazobinka.
*trans and non-binary women welcome.
Splendidly novel : speed dating
21 february 2021 ~ 9pm EST
Naila Rabel & Alicia Kazobinka
Speed-dating pour femmes* noires
Exciting and breathtaking speed dating for black queer women* who love women*
Hosted by Naila Rabel, known for her Instagram vlog La grosse qui fait des videos and Alicia Kazobinka, Massimadi’s influential spokeswoman. Ok, you’re going to tell us mehhh I’m shy, but this is for us, between us! A new activity to break emotional deprivation in times of the pandemic. The goal of this speed dating will be to build friendships, chat and who knows… maybe find a soul mate through dynamic exchanges in a safe and exclusive (non-mixed) space for black queer women*.
*trans and non-binary women welcome.
Black Utopia
27 february 2021 > 1:30 pm
Panel presented by Massimadi and Nigra Iuventa in connection with the exhibition presented at Never Apart
Contemporary society is a large, intricately woven web built on colonial and conservative values that have engendered different relationships of domination.Black communities, at the intersection of different social inequalities, have a long history of rebellion that demonstrates their willingness not to remain tied to this web. Struggles that mutate, adapt, are inscribed in time, and are transmitted intergenerationally in the form of a legacy of revolutionary urgency.Revolution suggests renewal and leads to the reflection of an “after”.
What would a world free of oppression look like for African and Afrodescendant people?From the quest for identity to social structure, different questions emerge, leading us to dream of the black utopia but also to reflect on its limits. To reflect on the different versions of this black utopia, we will have the pleasure of having journalist Omayra Issa who will lead this discussion in English with our panelists:
Omayra Issa, host
Omayra Issa is a bilingual journalist and TV host with experience working across a wide range of media platforms. Based in Saskatoon, Omayra works for Canada’s public broadcaster, Radio-Canada/CBC. She is currently a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan. She has also led a national initiative on diversity and inclusion at Radio-Canada.
YANNIS DAVY GUIBINGA
Photographer of Gabonese origin, documenting the cultures and identities of the African continent and its diaspora.
SYRUS MARCUS WARE
Researcher, visual artist, activist, educator who uses painting, installation and performance to explore social justice frameworks and black activist culture.
nènè myriam konaté
Transdisciplinary artist and facilitator whose work is primarily concerned with storytelling and body knowledge
Music and urban spaces
09 march 2021 > 5pm EST
Panel discussion in collaboration with the Afro Urbain festival
Music as a participatory tool in the creation of inclusive urban spaces for black queer people
Following the screening of two films dealing with the place of Afro & queer women in the music world: “Where My Girls” by Mads Engel (21 minutes / USA) and “Beat Is Protest! Funk by the female optics” by Mayara Efe (23 minutes / Brazil), shown as part of the 13th edition of Massimadi: LGBTQ+ Afro Film and Arts Festival, how can music contribute to the creation of inclusive urban spaces for Afro queer people? Panel discussion with :
G L O W Z I
Multidisciplinary artist (from painting to digital drawing and vinyl mixing) in Montreal.
Mélissa Laveaux
Singer, musician, and composer of Canadian origin and French nationality since 2019. Her music is tinged with Haitian influences, the country her parents came from, as well as blues and folk.
Wutangu DJette
Of Swiss and Angolan background, active on the Brussels scene with the collective Leaving Living Dakota. Her sets combine music from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, with a rap and techno vibe.
Hosted by Aisha Vertus (GAYANCE)
Montreal-based music programmer
Massimadi’s community choice
Selection 2021 : Themas !
Yes … again =) but admit they are cool our themas aren’t they?
Do you want to abuse the themas too ? Join the next programming committee here !
Africa in Love
Far Away
Thema 2021Free To Blossom
Thema 2021Rythme militant
L’activisme au cœur de l’action !
What’s the Massimadi movie database ?
It’s a unique resource. It is Massimadi’s archives database. What can be found there?
All the films and documentaries that have been screened at Massimadi since 2009 in the form of an profile. The memory of Massimadi!
Profiles on films, documentaries or series that are not part of Massimadi’s official selection, but that meet the criteria of the LGBTQ+ afro theme.
A direct link to online viewing sources (such as Netflix or Youtube) when the content is available.
The website will be enriched in the coming weeks. Phase 2 of the website will also dedicate a category for artistic content other than films. You will also be able to propose content!
An opportunity for Massimadi to offer you exclusive content in the coming weeks. Massimadi throughout the year!
Top 10 most consulted
Random films from the Massimadi Movie Databse
King Ester
This is the story of Ester, a trans woman struggling to find her path in New Orleans during the week
Redécouvrir la sélection du Festival 2020
The 13th LGBTQ+ Afro Massimadi Film and Arts Festival is brought to you by the Massimadi Foundation.
Coordination team
Laurent Maurice Lafontant, coordinator
Gio Olmos, programming assistant
Anthony Plagnes Payá, communications and website
Spokesperson
Alicia Kazobinka @kazobinka
Selection Committee
Yorrick Bouyela
Dimani M. Cassendo
Soyane Diallo
Laurent Maurice Lafontant
Gio Olmos
Public Relations
Raison d’être média / Danny Payne and Alex Nitsiou
Massimadi is an original idea of
Solange Musanganya
Visuals and design
Dimani M. Cassendo, poster
Johnelle Smith, visuals
A big thank you to all the collaborators and volunteers in the shadow of the festival not mentioned above, without which the festival could not exist!
Presented by
As part of
Major partners
Community and cultural partners
