10 YEARS WITHOUT FAIL!
Montreal, April 29, 2021 – No matter what the challenges, from a bit of adverse weather to a global pandemic, the Montreal Comic Arts Festival (MCAF) has succeeded year after year in welcoming thousands of participants. For ten years it has been one of the first large public events on the Montreal cultural calendar, and 2021 will be no exception!
Our 10th Anniversary, 100% Virtual
The organizers of MCAF worked until the last possible moment to create a hybrid event with some in-person elements, but given the ongoing (and seemingly never-ending) realities of the pandemic, for the second year in a row the Festival will be 100% virtual, live and direct online, where dozens of creators will be united to connect with thousands of audience members. Mark your calendars for May 6, when the full lineup of interviews, panels, workshops, and more will be announced.
Denis Rodier’s 10th Anniversary Poster Unveiled
This year, the Festival called on superstar talent Denis Rodier to create a very special poster for our 10th anniversary! With its gracious lines and elegant colors, his illustration balances perfectly between classic old-school charm and modern energy…
A perfect tone for celebrating the Festival’s first decade, and looking forward to the next!
Denis Rodier has been a well-known figure in the international comics scene for many years. He debuted with work at the American publisher DC Comics in 1988 and was an inker for classic series such as Batman and Green Lantern, and the famed “Death of Superman” storyline. Rodier also worked for Marvel, on the series Captain America and the comics adaptation of Hook. More recently, his graphic novel The Bomb, created with writers Alcante and Bollée and published by Glénat, was released to mark the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. The Bomb was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Cases d’histoire 2020 and the ACBD Québec Comics Award 2020.
MCAF will be hosting a virtual discussion with Denis Rodier on April 29, 2021 at 11:30am on MCAF’s Facebook page.
May, Comic Arts Month
To help celebrate our 10th anniversary in style, MCAF has called upon its many partners, both new and old, to offer even more events throughout the month of May. As is always the case, the Montreal Libraries Network will be offering a range of activities for all ages throughout the month. Without further ado, here are the partners and activities not to be missed:
Congrès Boréal – May 1st and 2nd
The Congrès Boréal has celebrate the fantasy and science fiction for over 40 years now! This year, the venerable event will be hosting a range of round table discussions, notably including appearances by creators Axelle Lenoir (Virée en horreur québécoise) and François Vigneault (Explorer les corps, pour penser le futur).
FBDCAN / CANCAF – May 6, 13, 20 and 27
Here’s an historic event for Canadian comics that connects the entire country from coast-to-coast! For the first time ever, four major comic art festivals (MCAF, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, Vancouver Arts Festival and Festival Québec BD) will be facing off in a live drawing tournament! Comic Night in Canada / La soirée de la BD will feature the talents of creators from each city, and Montréal will be well-represented with Yanick Paquette & Laurence Dea Dionne! Come cheer along as our dynamic duo faces off against our infamous rivals of Québec, Toronto, and Vancouver! Go Habs, go!
Salon du livre de Montréal – May 10, 17 and 24
With Lis-moi MTL au FBDM, the Salon du livre de Montréal offers relaxed meetings live on Instagram where we chat books and read with the finalists Québec of the 22nd edition of the Bédélys Awards: Patrick Senécal & Jeik Dion (Aliss, Front Froid & Alire), Catherine Lepage (Bouée, La Pastèque), Thom (Casa Rodéo, Pow Pow), Mirion Malle (C’est comme ça que je disparais, Pow Pow) & Mélanie Leclerc (Temps libre, Mécanique Générale). All the discussions will be hosted by Olivier Courtois of Liseur public.
BAnQ – May 23 and 26
This year MCAF is teaming up for two fantastic events with Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ). First up, “De Vive Voix,” will be a conversation between the creators Mélodie Vachon Boucher and Aurélie William Levaux, where they will discuss their respective work in what is sure to be a fascinating encounter presented by BAnQ and the General Delegation of Wallonia/Brussels in Québec.
Next up will be, BAnQ is Wiki, a hands-on learning session dedicated to all things Wikipedia, initiating the public in how to contribute to and enrich the world’s largest encyclopedia. The session will be focused on the resources available in French and how to improve the site’s coverage of Québec comics.
About MCAF
This year MCAF is celebrating its 10th anniversary! To mark the occasion, a full lineup of programming will be presented live online on May 28, 29 and 30th, celebrating the work of cartoonists from here and abroad. This year is also marked by the appearance of the Festival’s second anthology, X, published by Presses du FBDM | MCAF Press.
As always MCAF would like to thank our partners for their support and collaboration:
Emploi Québec, Conseil des arts du Canada, Conseil des arts de Montréal, SODEC, Patrimoine Canada, Service de la culture – Ville de Montréal, and the Arrondissement Le Plateau Mont-Royal.
Special thanks also to our media partners Culture Cible and the “booktubers” Nos Lectures Bleues, Evelynebiz and Abookandacup.
Thanks to Denis Rodier for his magnificent illustration.
And finally, many thanks to the hard-working volunteers, without whom the event couldn’t take place.
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Further Information
MCAF Contact
Johanne Desrochers
General Direction
johanne.desrochers@fbdm-mcaf.ca
Press Agency Rugicomm Contact
Camille P. Parent
Community relations and management
camille@rugicomm.ca
