Montreal Black History Month 2024 Edition Program

 

LA TABLE RONDE 

FRANÇAIS app de traduction à gauche

It's that time of year again when we get to enjoy the FABULOUS black culture! It is with great joy that I share this year's program with you!

LENA GHIO   

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Photos  © LENA GHIO   2024

Many Stories, One History: A Colourful 33rd edition of Black History Month for 2024! Montreal, January 25, 2024 - The Round Table on Black History Month is launching its programming for the 33rd time, which is intended to reach an ever-growing audience throughout Quebec. Content creator and actor Tailaire Laguerre (AKA Tai TL) will be the Francophone spokesperson, in tandem with meditation teacher, writer, and podcast host Fimo Mitchell who will serve as the English-language spokesperson. Tailaire Laguerre wanted to be a spokesperson for Black History Monthbecause he sees it as “a great opportunity to use [his] platform for a meaningful cause: amplifying the voices and stories of Canada’s Black communities.” He sincerely believes “in the power that laughter, storytelling, and creativity have to inspire change and unity,” all of which are facets he would like to emphasize in his role as spokesperson this year. As “spokesperson for these remarkable laureates,” Fimo Mitchell hopes that together we can leverage “our collective resilience and resources to drive positive change for our community.” He is committed to “champion our stories and the vision we hold for a more empowered and connected future.” Mitchell also reiterated the importance of celebrating “our history and vibrant tapestry of experiences,” and calls for us to “recognize that unity is our strength.” “Every year, Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity to collectively celebrate the accomplishments of members of Québec’s Black communities. Thanks to their talents and commitment, they have been contributing to the social, cultural and economic development of Québec for centuries. I encourage Quebecers of all origins to learn about the history of these communities and to participate in the various activities organized by the Round Table on Black History Month in every region of Québec. Let’s take advantage of this opportunity to build and strengthen the ties that unite us!” Christine Fréchette, Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration. THE LAUREATES Like every year, the Round Table on Black History Month produces and distributes a free annual calendar that highlights the laureates for that year. For this edition, the 12 laureates were photographed by Kevin Calixte. You can discover each of the laureates as individuals: poet, essayist, novelist, and editor-in-chief of Kola Magazine, H. Nigel Thomas; the founder of Quebec’s first cycling school, Papa Amadou Touré; leadership mentor and champion for young people Kathy Roach; Radio-Canada musical revelation of the year and one-of-a-kind artist Joseph Sarenhes; classical singer in the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Chorus Frédéricka Petit-Homme; journalist, content creator, and founder of the Institut NEOQUÉBEC, Cyrille Ekwala; founder and director of the Black Healing Centre, Samantha Nyinawumuntu; meditation teacher, writer, and podcast host Fimo Mitchell; vice-president of Fonds 1804, director of the Académie de leadership Louverture-Mandela, and author, Arcelle Appolon; one of the Montreal International Jazz Festival’s musical pioneers, singer, songwriter, and percussionist Vovo Saramanda; strategic advisor specialized in police reform and PhD in ecological economics and sustainable development Ibrahima Gassama; and singer-songwriter, lawyer specialized in media law, and founding member of Montreal group Bran Van 3000, Stephane Moraille.   Visit the official website: www.moishistoiredesnoirs.com/laureats THEME FOR 2023 A page turns. Last edition of Black History Month was special, because it marked a full return to in-person programming. The pandemic had wide-reaching impacts on us all but each of us experienced it in our own way. In light of this situation, our intention this year is to celebrate every facet of Black history. It is essential to represent and further promote the countless stories, points of view, and experiences of Afro-descendant people in Quebec. As a result, the theme of this edition will be Many Stories, One History. Artist Garfield Morgan, who is currently in residence at Edmonton’s Harcourt House Artist Run Centre, created this year’s poster. Featuring acrylic, paper dollies, and African wax fabric, and decorated with Adinkra (Ghanaian symbols), the piece symbolize the resilience, perseverance, and success of the Afro-descendant diaspora, despite their former and current challenges. The dollies symbolize a gentle, delicate spirit in balance with an inner strength that is continually drawn upon to move forward. A RICH, PRESTIGIOUS, SURPRISING PROGRAM The 2024 edition of Black History Month will feature sharing-driven moments to be experienced throughout Quebec—and, of course, Montreal. Here’s a quick overview of some of the not-to-be-missed events: Diggers February 1 - 17 Segal Centre for Performing Arts Black Theatre Workshop is back with the world premiere of Donna-Michelle St. Bernard’s Diggers. The play centres around 3 gravediggers, their dedication to their work, and how they are viewed, and sometimes excluded, by fellow citizens of their village. A tribute to essential workers, Diggers will be presented at The Segal Centre for Performing Arts (Studio), from February 1st to the 17th   Trey McLaughlin and The Sounds of Zamar February 2 Place des Arts – Théâtre Maisonneuve Originally from the United States (Georgia), this gospel and neo-soul group, which has been performing internationally since 2019, will take the stage in Montreal for the first time, as part of The Zamar Experience tour.  SIRA, a Film by Apolline Traoré  February 2 Cinéma Beaubien  “This new film by Burkinabé director Apolline Traoré, a necessary and poignant work, depicts the harsh reality of African women victimized by terrorism and the resilience they are capable of. It won the Panorama Audience Award at the Berlinale and the Silver Stallion at FESPACO.” (CINEMANIA, 2024) Black Winter Fest As of February 3 Hike Mtl  Hike Mtl is organizing its annual BLK WinterFest, and you’re invited! BLK WinterFest runs for a month and offers up six different winter sports and activities you’re sure to enjoy trying! Transportation and equipment are covered—all you have to do is join the team! Hike Mtl has everything you need to make this winter season an unforgettable experience! See you on the slopes soon! Show – Festival Afropolitain Nomade February 9 and 10 J. Armand Bombardier Theatre at the McCord Stewart Museum A musical performance that’s the result of an international residency project. A fruitful collaboration between Sandrine Masse (a classically trained Huron-Wendat violist and winner of the first Georges-Dor prize), Mariuska Moukengue (a versatile Congolese artist, director of the international Slamouv festival, and recipient of the 2022 Prince Claus Fund prize from the Dutch royal family), Lydol (a Cameroonian slammer and ambassador of the 2022 Africa-EU Partnership), and Sarah Bergeron (a Canadian guitarist and rhythm and sound designer). Annual Blood Drive February 10C C.É.D.A.  Each year, the Round Table on Black History Month organizes a blood drive to support people suffering from sickle cell anemia and highlight the critical contributions Black communities make to the Quebec blood supply. Screening and Discussion – Afrodiaspora Global February 14 J. Armand Bombardier Theatre at the McCord Stewart Museum The documentary Afrodiaspora Global explores the presence of people and cultures of African descent around the world—including well- and lesser-known communities in the Americas and even less known communities in the South Pacific, Indian Ocean, and South Asia. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Sheila S. Walker, an anthropologist and the director of the film, and Khadiatou Sarr, a doctoral student at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) who specializes in international law. Montreal Canadiens Screening of the film Black Ice, followed by a discussion with director Hubert Davis February 20 Bell Centre Black Ice is an Academy Award- and Emmy Award-nominated documentary directed by filmmaker Hubert Davis. In this film, Davis speaks out about racism in the world of hockey and illustrates its history through the unpublished stories of former and current players from Black and Indigenous communities. These figures include the first Black player in the National Hockey League, Willie O'Ree; former professional hockey player Akim Aliu; as well as Wayne Simmonds and Pernell K. Subban. Conversations Noires February 24  Conversations Noires is back for its 6th edition! An intergenerational conference where pioneers from the community come together to explore culture-related topics through panel discussions, workshop series, art experiences, and more... Regional Programming: Black History Month isn’t just being celebrated in the city—but also in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, the Outaouais, and Gaspésie. Naturally, the 2024 edition is no different. In Lanaudière, we bring the past and the future into dialogue by offering you activities and events focused on entrepreneurship, the arts, and history. A literary event, at which Gregory Charles will be the special guest, is also planned. In Quebec City, several conferences, workshops, and galas will be on topics related to challenges and perspectives around the health and fulfilment of African-Canadians. The inaugural conference will take place on February 2. In Laval, a dynamic, varied program awaits you!    *** Black History Month will take place all across Quebec from February 1 to 29, 2024. To discover all of the scheduled activities, visit www.moishistoiredesnoirs.com ABOUT THE ROUND TABLE ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH The Round Table on Black History Month is a non-profit organization created to promote activities related to various aspects of the history of Black communities, all in a way that emphasizes both the historical and the contemporary.   www.moishistoiredesnoirs.com

POTPOURRI Janvier 2024

 AU CINÉMA

La Fiancée du Poète Bande Annonce

ENGLISH translation app left

Yolande Moreau a écrit cette belle histoire d'amour dont elle interprète le rôle principal de Mireille Stockaert, une femme dans la soixantaine qui revient dans son pays natal après avoir passé quarante ans en tole.  Seule dans la grande maison familiale depuis longtemps abandonnée elle ne sait plus comment poursuivre sa route. Un jour en marchant au bord de la rivière, elle rencontre Père Benoît, interprété par William Sheller, qui l'encourage à aller vers les gens pour refaire sa vie. 

Ce film intègre plusieurs formes artistiques: poésie, peinture, musique: pour raconter la vie de ses personnages marginaux qui vont former une nouvelle famille autour de Mireille. Le film est comme passé une belle journée à la campagne. Il y a des moments tendres et d'autres très drôle.

À LA TÉLÉ

Hugo Latulippe présente Bonheur intérieur Brut à TV5 - Bande Annonce

Dès le 30 janvier à TV5 vous pourrez visionner la série Bonheur intérieur brut présenté par le cinéaste globetrotter Hugo Latulippe. Dans cette série, on voyage au travers des montagnes majestueuses, des pays nordiques, des grandes villes européennes pour rencontrer des penseurs, des scientifiques, des philosophes qui nous proposent dans un language simple et agréable des façons de retrouver la nature et la joie de vivre que nous méritons tous. 

Ce que j'ai grandement apprécier de ce projet réaliser par Tapis Rouge Films, est la beauté de la cinématographie et les détails du quotidiens comme la visite au marché avec la cheffe bouddhiste Jeong Kwan de la Corée du sud qui examine chaque ingrédients de sa cuisine.

Un petit bonheur à savourer avec une bonne tasse de thé.

The Matrix

Deux documentaires inédits seront présentés ce vendredi 26 janvier à PLANÈTE+ pour célébrer les 25 ans de cette série qui est devenue un phénomène culturel: THE MATRIX: GENERATION de Benjamin Clavel à 20h et KEANU REEVES: MESSIE POP de Julien Dupuy à 21h. On retrace la vie de l'acteur mystérieux Keanu Reeves qui devient Neo, un messie de la nouvelle ère technologique ainsi que l'impacte de la technologie sur toutes nos vies.

AU THÉÂTRE

Le Misanthrope au TNM

Le metteur en scène Florent Siaud a transformé la pièce de Molière tout en maintenant les concepts de base que l'auteur voulait illuminer par la pièce. Celle-ci explore l'hypocrisie qui est au coeur de plusieurs contacts avec les autres dans la société.

Points forts pour moi, le décor et les costumes sont magnifiques, modernes et tous les personnages ont l'air des influenceurs. Points faibles, le récit est difficile à suivre. La langue de Molière est rapide et fracassante et les éléments nouveaux ajoutés au texte original, exemple les personnages LGBTQ, ont fait que je n'ai compris qu'un tier du dialogue. 

À l'époque de Molière on ne développait pas les performances des comédiens. Leurs rôles étaient incarnés par des textes lourds.

Suivez les liens pour voir la distribution  et accéder à la billetterie.

EXPOSITION

ARTLÉTISME  Une exposition commissariée par Didier Morelli  19 janvier - 30 mars 2024 chez Artexte 2 rue Sainte-Catherine Est, salle 301 Montréal, Québec H2X 1K4 514-874-0049  info@artexte.ca

Artexte est une ressource extraordinaire pour tous les artistes, commissaires et historiens de l'art. Depuis sa fondation cette institution recueille des livres et des documents sur toutes les expositions imaginables qui ont eu lieu. Vous pouvez faire une recherche en ligne ICI.

Didier Morelli a rassemblé des livres qui documentent des expositions dédiées à l'art qui examine le sport sous toutes ses formes. C'est fascinant de découvrir ce que les artistes ont réalisé. 

À LIRE

La revue CIEL VARIABLE a lancé sa dernière publications la semaine dernière. Cette revue se consacre surtout aux pratiques reliées à la photographie, les nouvelles technologies et leur impact sur la culture.

Cette édition intitulée AGGLOMÉRATIONS retrace les dossiers d' Éric Tabuchi/Nelly Monnier, Suzanne Lafont et Bertrand Carrière. J'aime beaucoup le sujet des fleurs exploré par Suzanne Lafont Nouvelles espèces de compagnie dont vous voyez un exemplaire sur la couverture de la nouvelle revue plus haut.

LENA GHIO   

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Photos  © LENA GHIO   2024

Centaur Theatre's Wildside Festival presents Scapegoat Carnivale's

 

« Acclaimed theatre company Scapegoat Carnivale is honoured to present the world premiere of Ricki in Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival. The play is a darkly absurd fable about the trials of a woman who with her ten-year-old son moves to Montreal to rebuild their lives after the loss of her husband and home; a bittersweet examination of the conflicts between parents and children as they struggle against monsters, both real and imaginary. Ricki is co-directed by company Co-Artistic Directors Alison Darcy & Joseph Shragge, who is also the playwright. Ricki runs from January 31 to February 3 (preview Jan. 30). To encourage dialogue, Scapegoat Carnivale will hold a moderated talkback on Fri. Feb. 2 with eminent American scholar Michael M. Chemers, whose work focuses on monsters in theatre history. The play includes mature themes fused with humour. »

Ricki

January 30 (preview) to February 3 (6 shows only)

Scapegoat Carnivale at Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival- 453 Saint-François Xavier

Opening night is Wed. January 31, 8:00pm

The show runs: Wed. to Sat. 8pm + matinee on Sat. Feb. 3, 3pm

Tickets: $10-$25 

Centaur Theatre box office 514 288-3161 or Centaur Theatre online

A talkback with scholar Michael M. Chemers will follow the performance on Fri. Feb. 2a

I will be posting a review February 1, 2024.

See you at the theater!

LENA GHIO   

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AT THE MOVIES / AU CINÉMA 19.01.2024

TRAILER

ENGLISH translation app left / FRANÇAIS app de traduction à gauche

I.S.S.

DIRECTED BY Gabriela Cowperthwaite 

CAST Ariana DeBose John Gallagher Jr. Chris Messina Maria Mashkova Pilou Asbæk Costa Ronin

I was intrigued to see this movie set on the I.S.S., a place I have explored a lot through VR experiences and immersive features. It is quite a good thriller that will give you a choking feeling. From an uplifting beginning when new crew members arrive, meet and greet the Russian and American astronauts already there, the movie evolves into a dramatic scenario where the worst fears of modern man manifest, a global nuclear war. The sublime blue planet is on fire!

It is very well done with accuracy and convincing. The thriller begins when the leaders of the two crews receive information from their government to take over the station. The reason for this order is about an experiment going on in the station that both sides want. 

The cast is excellent and brings the bloody drama to life inside the tight quarters of the space station in 0 gravity. I recommend this film if you enjoy thrillers, it will hit the spot!

LA TRESSE THE BRAID

Un film réalisé par Laetitia Colombani avec Kim Raver, Fotinì Peluso et Mia Maelzner qui interprètent les trois rôles principaux. On y suit trois histoires de femmes courageuses et leurs familles en Italie, en Inde, et à Montréal. Tous confrontent la maladie et comment cela impacte les choix de vie auxquels nous avons tous fait face.

Ce film réalisé avec des collaborations internationales  est magnifique, touchant et d'une grande beauté. En plus, des comédiens de la scène théâtrale Montréalaise font partie de la distribution telle la merveilleuse Leni Parker que j'ai souvent vu au Théâtre le Centaure.

À ne pas manquer!

NOUVEAU DÉPART NEW BEGINNING

J'ai adoré cette comédie romantique de Philippe Lefebvre aux tournures surprenantes mettant en vedette Franck Dubosc dans le rôle d'Alain et Karin Viard dans le rôle de Diane, son épouse. Tout commence quand leur fils Malo, Joaquim Fossi, quitte le foyer familial pour aller étudier au Japon. Diane se rend compte qu'elle vit une existence routinière quoiqu'Alain l'adore et fait tout pour la rendre heureuse.

Le film explore la sexualité moderne sans honte ni exagération pour créer des circonstances étonnantes. Le film est beau, la scénographie bien exécutée, l'ambiance bien soutenue. C'est tout simplement un agréable 80 minutes à passer en bonne compagnie!

Une autre film à ne pas manquer!

LENA GHIO   

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ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᕗᒃ Tautuktavuk (What We See)

ᑕᐅᑐᒃᑕᕗᒃ
Tautuktavuk
(What We See)
by Lucy Tulugarjuk & Carol Kunnuk

 

TRAILER

FRANÇAIS app de traduction à gauche

The story unfolds in a ZOOM conversation happening between two sisters: Saqpinak, the older sister played by Carol Kunnuk and Uyarak, the younger sister played by Lucy Tulugarjuk. One lives in Nunavit,  the other in the city. As the movie progresses we begin to discover the details of the two sisters day to day life during the pandemic. We also become aware of their tragic secrets.

It is interesting how they incentivized the Inuit to get their covid vaccines in exchange for money. The more vaccine a person got, the bigger the payout. 

One of the themes explored is how Christian religions impacted the lives of the natives. It is such a triggering element of the history of native peoples! It makes me growl!

I thoroughly  enjoyed this healing journey set in a landscape of snow, sea and sky. You can feel the love between people as they reconcile at the end.

DO NOT MISS this film that opened in Montreal January 12, 2024, at Cinema Moderne. Stay posted to find out about more screening there HERE and make sure to check it out in streaming services.

Tautuktavuk (What We See) had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2023, where it won the Amplify Voices BIPOC & Canadian First Feature Award, as well as being named on the 2023 TIFF Top Ten List. The film also picked up the Rödspoven Prize at Sweden’s Umeå Film Festival (UEFF) and the Sun Jury Award at the 2023 ImagineNATIVE Film Festival. The film had its Quebec Premiere in December 2023 as the closing film of Cinema Politica Concordia's fall season.

Kamatsiaqtut // Nunavut Help Line: 1-800-265-3333 - 1-867-979-3333

LENA GHIO   

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Lounge Café @ Telchac, Yuc., Mexico

Lounge Café

FRANÇAIS app de traduction à gauche 

Aplicación de traducción al ESPAÑOL izquierda

If you travel to Mexico this winter, take a moment to enjoy the breeze at the Lounge Café. What I enjoyed most was that succulent roasted chicken. There are also special events and special menus to discover.

DO NOT MISS THIS ADORABLE CAFÉ 

Pet Friendly All Information HERE

LENA GHIO   

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