MCAF Reveals Programming Schedule for 2019 Festival: Towards the International!
(Montreal, May 1 2019) The Montreal Comic Arts Festival has released its programming schedule for the 8th edition of its annual Festival, with a special focus on the International. MCAF, a bilingual and eco-conscious event that is free and open to the public, will be held from Friday, May 24 – Sunday, May 26 2019 at L’Espace La Fontaine in Montreal.
Towards the International
Over the course of eight years, the Festival has become a crossroads for comic arts, bringing together the best elements of anglophone and francophone comic arts from across North America and Europe. MCAF aims to promote talents from Quebec and Canada on the world stage, as well as to cement Montreal’s reputation an international capital of the comic arts.
The Festival’s programming, round-table discussions, workshops, expositions, screenings, and interviews with creators allow visitors of all ages to learn more about the comic arts.
Featured Guests
MCAF is delighted to welcome comics creators from Germany, Belgium, France, the United States, and of course from Quebec and Canada. These creators will share their thoughts on origins, identity, borders, and many other subjects as they connect with the comic arts and their creations. Featured guests are:
- Maryse & Jean-François Charles (Belgium)
- Anne Simon (France)
- Delaf & Dubuc (Sherbrooke, Quebec)
- Fabien Toulmé (France)
- Charles Forsman (United States)
- Brigit Weyhe (Germany)
- Julie Rocheleau (Montreal, Quebec)
- Yoann (France)
2019 Poster
This year, the Montreal Comic Arts Festival is honored to present our official poster designed by Liniers, full of color, character, and energy.
Liniers (Ricardo Liniers Siri) is a Argentinian cartoonist and painter, currently in residence at the Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) in White River Junction, Vermont. His work has frequently graced the cover of The New Yorker. Liniers’ daily strip Macanudo, which has been published daily in Argentina by La Nación since 2002 and as English-language collections in the United States since 2014, has grown to be one of the most celebrated cartoon strips in South America, and Liniers has become one of the continent’s most popular cartoonists. Liniers won the Inkpot Award for career achievement in 2018 and an Eisner Award for his graphic novel for younger readers Good Night, Planet.
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately, an unexpected scheduling conflict has made it impossible for Liniers to be present at this year’s Festival.
Programming 2019
MCAF is offering up three days of activities and events that are sure to charm and delight everyone who comes the the Festival. Organized in four main themes (Family Fun, Meet the Creators, Read Between the Lines, and International Experiences), the Festival’s programming allows each and every attendee to discover the imagination, beauty, and pure joy of comics.
The programming schedule is presented in five formats: Special Events, Activities at Calixa-Lavallée, Activities at L’Espace La Fontaine, Expositions, and After-Hours Events:
Special Events
| Theme | Day | Activity |
| Enjoy Family Time | Saturday, May 25 | Drawing Battle |
| Ton histoire en musique (Jeunesses Musicales Canada) | ||
| Sunday, May 26 | Brunch Manga | |
| Meet the creators | Saturday, May 25 | Conversation avec Delaf et Dubuc (Les Nombrils) |
| Q&A with Charles Forsman (The end of The F****king World) | ||
| Sunday, May 26 | Dans l’univers de Fabien Toulmé (L’Odyssée d’Hakim) | |
| Read Comics | Friday, May 24 | Art as Therapy |
| Saturday, May 25 | Snakes Ladders & Closure, the Mechanics of Comics Art | |
| Sunday, May 26 | Influence du lecteur sur l’œuvre | |
| Go International | Saturday, May 25 | Émotions sans frontières |
| Caricaturer l’actualité | ||
| Sunday, May 26 | Website confidential | |
Activities at Calixa-Lavallée
The activities presented at Calixa-Lavallée can accommodate a limited number of attendees; online registration is required to reserve a place.
Activities at Espace La Fontaine
The program includes a range of activities for everyone. Please consult this page for full details.
Exhibitions
The 2019 Festival includes several exhibitions, including off-site exhibitions. Full descriptions and information are available in the program.
| Date | Exhibition |
| May 1-15 2019 | Comics from Le Monde Diplomatique Germany |
| May 1-26 2019 | Julie Rocheleau : Journeys and Destinations |
| May 13-26 2019 | La petite Russie by Francis Desharnais |
| May 15-26 2019 | Quebec in International Comics |
| May 15-31 2019 | Heroi(ne)s |
| May 24-26 2019 | Trophies from the Bédélys Awards ITAI DOSHIN The World of Anne Simon Bringing the Art of Bookbinding in the World of Comics |
Comics Evenings
Four can’t-miss evening events:
| Date | Soirée |
| Friday, May 24 8 pm | Bédélys Awards Ceremony |
| Saturday, May 25 6 pm | Launch Rue de Montréal Book |
| Saturday, May 25 6pm | Launch TRIP no 10 LaunchLe Festival des corbeaux |
| Sunday, May 25 8pm | Live-Drawing Concert Kévin Morens, pianist and François Vigneault, illustrator |
Exhibitors: MCAF sets a record number of registered exhibitors
This year MCAF has set a record number of registered exhibitors (79), who will be set up on site for the duration of the festival to welcome visitors. The full list of exhibitors is attached.
May, Comic Arts Month
Starting today, the month of May is celebrating the comic arts! Created in partnership with MCAF and Montreal Public Libraries, May Comics Month offers up dozens of activities all month long, all open to the public, at a wide range of locations. See the full program.
Partners
It is with great appreciation that MCAF thanks the following partners:
Financial Partners: Caisse de la culture, Conseil des Arts de Montréal, Conseil des Arts du Canada, Consulat général de France à Québec, Goethe Institut, Gouvernement du Canada, SODEC, Tourisme Québec, Ville de Montréal, Wallonie – Bruxelles International.be.
Services Partners: Bibliothèques Montréal, Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Commission scolaire de Montréal, Espace La Fontaine, Newad et Le Plateau-Mont-Royal.
Media Partners: 24 Heures, CISM 89,3, CULT Mtl, Culture Cible, La vitrine.com; Huffpost, Le Devoir, NATCHAV et la revue PLANCHES.
Information
Site : Espace La Fontaine (3933, avenue du Parc-La Fontaine, Montréal)
No cars are allowed in the park / Parking available on side streets
Schedule : Friday, May 24, 1pm -7pm – Saturday, May 25, 10 am – 6pm- Sunday, May 26, 10am – 5pm
Consigne : The park is bottle free. We recommend you bring your own water bottle
ACCREDITATIONS:
For any request to participate in the Festival, please contact Chantale Baar at (514) 992-6463 / presse@fbdm-montreal.ca with your name, the media you represent and the days you will be on the site.
About MCAF
MCAF’s mission is to be a leading platform for the comic arts in Quebec and beyond, to broaden public knowledge of and engagement with the comic arts, and to promote cultural exchanges and interactions between creators, readers, and the public at large. MCAF seeks to expand the role of the comic arts in the cultural sphere and to improve the dynamism of Quebec’s comic arts industry. MCAF will become a crossroads between Europe and America, a professional and bilingual organization which unifies the field’s players
The MCAF is proud to present its new logo and new website that have benefited from a refresh of image and content to better meet the needs.
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Further Information :
Chantale Baar
MCAF Public Relations
(514) 992-6463
presse@fbdm-montreal.ca
