Massimadi Festival Explained

The Massimadi Festival is an annual arts and cultural festival in Montreal, Quebec, which centres on LGBTQ culture from Africa and the African diaspora.^[1] Launched in 2009 by activist Laurent Lafontant,^[2] the event stages a program of artistic exhibitions, film screenings and panel discussions on Black LGBTQ communities and topics.^[3]

In 2021, the organization also launched Massimadi en rue, a street performance event staged separately from the festival.^[4]

An event, created in collaboration with Haitian LGBTQ activist Charlot Jeudy, was slated to launch in Port-au-Prince in 2016, but was cancelled after threats of violence from anti-gay protestors.^[5]

The event is a qualifying festival for the Canadian Screen Awards.^[6]

Notes and References

1. T'Cha Dunlevy, "8th Massimadi Festival celebrates LGBTQ, Afro-Caribbean films". Montreal Gazette, February 15, 2016.
2. Antoni Nerestant, "Carving a space for the Black LGBTQ+ community through film and art". CBC News, Montreal, February 1, 2022.
3. Hannah Sabourin, "Massimadi Festival celebrates Black filmmakers and their stories". The Link, February 13, 2022.
4. Olivia Piché, "Massimadi foundation branches out with their new initiation Massimadi en rue". The Link, September 19, 2021.
5. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/massimadi-lgbt-festival-canceled-in-haiti-amid-threats-to-organizers/ "LGBT festival canceled in Haiti amid threats to organizers"
6. https://www.academy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2024-Canadian-Screen-Awards-Eligible-Festivals-Online-Platforms-List.pdf "2024 Canadian Screen Awards: Eligible Festivals & Online Platforms"