About

Annual artistic event created on the edge of the Festival TransAmériques (FTA), the OFFTA is a festival dedicated to avant-garde creation in live art. It aims to scout, throughout the year, the local artistic landscape in order to put forward creators whose practice leads new trends in theatre, dance and performance. The OFFTA bases its identity on an artistic direction that encourages strong and singular approaches, emerging practices and experimentation.

Following the disappearance of the Festival international de nouvelle danse (FIND) and the Nouvelle Scène section of the Festival de Théâtre des Amériques1, a large part of the artistic community was left without a platform; the idea of the OFFTA consequently emerged.

It is with vision and determination that five young theatre artists (Jasmine Catudal, Stephanie Capistran-Lalonde, Johanne Haberlin, Emmanuelle Kirouac-Sanche and Jacques Laroche) organized the first edition. From May 23rd to June 7th, 2007, seven plays were presented in five different venues. The various acts of support from the community and the numerous positive reactions proved the importance of an “OFF” in the cultural landscape of Montreal.

The following year and for subsequent editions, the festival’s artistic committee became pluridisciplinary by integrating members from the fields of dance, visual arts and contemporary practices. With the numerous project proposals and undeniable media support, the festival acquired a solid reputation among the public and the artistic community. The OFFTA rapidly became an essential showcase for the national and international exposure of local artists. An impressive number of renowned artists presented their work in the context of the festival, such as Mani Soleymanlou, Félix-Antoine Boutin, Philippe Boutin, Maxime Carbonneau, Sarah Berthiaume, L’eau du bain, Jacob Wren, Jacques Poulin-Denis, Adam Kinner, Mélanie Demers, Étienne Lepage, Frédérick Gravel, Nicolas Cantin, Emmanuel Schwartz, Sylvie Cotton, Production Porte-Parole and Nadège Grebmeier-Forget.

Again and again, the OFFTA aspires to decompartmentalise contemporary art practices along with their respective audiences. In keeping with its vision of disciplinary encounters, the OFFTA produces and presents hybrid events which challenge established live art practices and question modes of representation, as well as facilitate participation, dialogue and cooperation.

The OFFTA is a structuring platform for young Montreal artists that creates, produces and presents their work. The festival offers residencies of research and creation as well as dramaturgic support for several of the selected projects. It gives access to professional means of production and communications to all the artists of the program, and act as a first link between young artists and national and international presenters who are in Montreal at this time of year. With these levers, the OFFTA festival aims to amplify the strong voices of its generation.

Venues and Access

Monument-National
1182, boul. Saint-Laurent

Place de la Paix
Parc face au
Monument-National

Place des Fleurs-de-Macadam
Terrain du 962, ave. du Mont-Royal Est

Édifice Wilder – Espace danse
1435, rue De Bleury

Fonderie Darling
745, rue Ottawa

Galerie de l’UQAM
Université du Québec
à Montréal
1400, rue Berri
Pavillon Judith-Jasmin
Local J-R 120

Théâtre Aux Écuries
7285, rue Chabot

NOMAD Life
129, ave. Van Horne

QG du FTA
175, ave. du Président-Kennedy

Grants

Thanks to the support of its partners and patrons, the OFFTA can offer grants to the festival’s standout artists or collectives. These will be awarded to creators who have contributed to the vitality of the Montreal and Quebec live art scene. Recipients will be selected by the OFFTA’s artistic committee.

Audacity Grant – Caisse de la Culture Desjardins
Awarded to an individual artist or group for audacious practices fostering new perspectives

Logo Caisses Desjardins

Hybridity Grant
Awarded to an individual artist or group for the outstanding hybridity of their artistic practice

Committee’s special mention
The artist or group chosen will receive a two-week residency at the Ateliers de LA SERRE – arts vivants in 2019–2020

Calls

OFFTA is looking for volunteers
Every year, a dedicated team of volunteers contributes to the success of the OFFTA, live art festival. We are currently seeking volunteers for this 13th edition, which will take place from May 24th to June 2nd, 2019. Volunteering at OFFTA is an opportunity to see the shows of the program, discover the festival’s backstage and be actively engaged in the live art community by joining a fantastic team !

Consult the volunteers call
Complete the online form

Archives

Partners

Public Partners

Broadcasting Partners

Collaborating Partners

Associates Partners

Media Partners