Festival Phénomena
presents the unusual

The 39th Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal winner runs until October 24

By Faith Langston

October 2, 2025

Over the years, the bold but benevolent Festival Phénomena has become part of Montreal’s cultural scene. As an interdisciplinary event, it offers a neutral space to unclassifiable, unusual, avant-garde artists who are deaf, culturally diverse, LGBTQ, or marginalized for various reasons. It provides a chance for people who don’t fit into so-called normal patterns to experiment with new forms.

So Called

D. Kimm, founder of the Festival Phénomena, elaborates, “Our goal is to render avant-gardiste and audacious culture available to all, to an initiated and non-initiated public, which is what makes Phenomena such a unique and effervescent festival, followed by a whole community of artists and audiences.”

Groundwork for the festival doubtless comes from Les Filles électriques, a company also founded by D. Kimm in 2001. This interdisciplinary company produces interactive poetry, performing arts, music, digital and visual arts..

“A new trajectory for the Festival Phénomina consists of establishing communication with the French-speaking deaf community. So far, our initiatives have mainly contributed to the promotion and professionalization of deaf artists. With this, we want to take a new step forward to involve the deaf community more directly in a critical and active role in cultural mediation,” says Kimm.

Starting on Thursday, October 2 (schedule has been changed to accommodate the bus strike), Regards culturels, an L.S.Q. Québec Sign Language project will take place at the Cinémathèque québécoise between 5 pm and 6:30 pm. According to Kimm, “The goal of Regards culturels is not only to increase the visibility of productions accessible to deaf people but also to create a genuine dialogue between cultural circles and the deaf community. Thanks to video reviews produced in L.S.Q., we will provide a concrete awareness-raising tool that values the perspective of deaf people and encourages their cultural participation.”

… it [Festival Phénomena] offers a neutral space to unclassifiable, unusual, avant-garde artists who are deaf, culturally diverse, LGBTQ, or marginalized for various reasons.

This reception will be followed by Perspectives sourdes on tourne! at 6:30 pm – six short films produced by deaf filmmakers from six different countries (with subtitles in French) featuring stories that are funny, upsetting, and striking.

Among the many fascinating events to choose from is a piece entitled L’écho des Signes – contes des signes, where the hands of Marie-Pierre Petit tell what words cannot. A visual and poetic journey through tales from here and elsewhere is conveyed through L.S.Q. It takes place on Sunday, October 5, at 2 pm at the Maison de la culture du Plateau-Mont-Royal and is described as opening doors to a richly imaginative world, accessible to all, where silence becomes language.

Saints Martyrs

A soul-searching work by Naveet Confit, Entriailles Ouvertes, on October 15 at the Sala Rosa blends music and poetry. Although it is said to be a disturbing piece, it is, at the same time, full of humour. And on October 18 at 8 pm, also at Sala Rosa, a popular musician (voice and accordion) named So Called (!) will be performing with his band.

This year, Festival Phénomena 2025 has been awarded the 39th Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal – a well-deserved recognition. The Festival’s festive and irreverent nature, which puts the freedom of artists first, was rightfully credited.

‘The goal of Regards culturels is not only to increase the visibility of productions accessible to deaf people but also to create a genuine dialogue between cultural circles and the deaf community.’

D. Kimm, founder, Festival Phénomena

As of this year, D. Kimm will no longer oversee the Festival. “This 14th edition of Phénomena is also the last one I will be organizing. After 14 years serving Les Filles électriques, which I founded in 2001, the Festival Voix d’Amériques, which I directed from 2003 to 2011, and the Phénomena Festival, which I have directed since 2012, I will be stepping down, with serenity and kindness, to make way for the new leadership of Gaétan Paré, a true partner and internationally recognized director.”

Like they say, change is the only constant. Nothing to do but make a costume and attend the Phénomena Festival, parade together with the Mile End fairy Patsy Van Roost and Viaduc 375. Everyone is invited to join the fanciful parade, a blend of Fellinian and Surrealist elements, that brings together residents and street artists. The exact date for the parade has not been determined yet. The official website notes that you can sign up to receive their newsletter to be notified when the date and the details are released.

The festival runs from October 2 to October 24.

electriques.ca/phenomena

Images: courtesy of Festival Phénomena

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Faith Langston is a Concordia graduate with a long-standing interest in theatre. For the last ten years, she has worked as a literacy tutor with the Jamaican Association.