Join us for the “No Arms in the Arts Festival”, a 10-day counter-program to Hot Docs including actions, film screenings, and talks. We are calling on Scotiabank to fully divest from Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems and for all cultural institutions receiving funding from the bank, including Hot Docs, CONTACT, and the Giller Prize, to end their complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
From April 25 to May 5, join us in the call: No Arms in the Arts! Scotiabank, Divest from Elbit!
All events will be PWYC to decolonize our cultural sector and empower artists and arts workers from Turtle Island to Palestine!
Follow this space! The schedule will be updated daily.
Please see 'Event Details' at bottom of page for access and COVID safety info.
April
-
Thursday April 25
WHAT:
VIGIL FOR GAZAWHERE:
Seaton Park, behind Hot Docs Cinema
TIME:
6pm - 7pm
INFO:
Join us for a vigil honouring journalists killed in Gaza. This event will be hosted by Filmworkers for Palestine, with remarks from members of Palestinian Youth Movement, University-Rosedale for Palestine.
-
Friday April 26
WHAT:
FILM SCREENING: Gaza: Between Images + Bodies
WHERE:
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave
TIME:
Doors, 6pm. Poster pickup 6-7pm. Film screening 7pm.
INFO:
6-7pm, before the screening, posters will be available for pickup hosted by Postering for Palestine.
7pm, opening remarks and film program courtesy Regards Palestiniens (Montreal).
Film program details: https://regardspalestiniens.wordpress.com/cinema-for-gaza-between-images-and-bodies/
COST:
PWYC (*all funds raised will be donated to filmmaker Mohamad Harb)
-
Saturday April 27
WHAT:
FILM SCREENING: Three Promises
by Yousef SroujiWHERE:
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave
TIME:
Doors, 6pm. Poster pickup 6-7pm. Film screening 7pm.
INFO:
6-7pm, before the screening, posters will be available for pickup hosted by Postering for Palestine.
Directed by Yousef Srouji, 2023
Palestine, Lebanon, United States, 61 min.
In Arabic with English subtitles.
COST:
PWYC
-
Sunday April 28
WHAT:
PANEL: Settler Colonialism and Extractive Capital | From Turtle Island To Palestine
WHERE:
CashOnly Bar, 1516 Dundas St West
TIME:
6:30pm, followed by a festival social.
INFO:
Molly Wickham, Sleydo' Gidimt'en Clan of the Wet'suwet'en Nation) and Rachel Small (World Beyond War) will join Maya Menezes in conversation.
Followed by a social and meet and greet for cultural workers and community organizers, with music from Palestine selected by Mounir and ML6.
COST:
PWYC
-
Monday April 29
WHAT:
FILM SCREENING: R21 aka Restoring Solidarity & My Name is Mei Shigenobu
WHERE:
Gallery TPW, 170 St Helens Ave
TIME:
Doors 6:30pm, Opening remarks at 7pm, followed by film screening
INFO:
Co-presented by wave~form~projects & re:assemblage collective
COST:
PWYC
-
Tuesday April 30
WHAT:
Tadamun / Solidarity Forever roundtable
WHERE:
The Commons @ 401 Richmond, 401 Richmond St. W, 4th floor
TIME:
7:00pm
INFO:
Join Nisrin Elamin (Sudan Solidarity Collective), Joey (Jews Say No To Genocide), May (Queers 4 Palestine), and Ryan Ferko (No Arms in the Arts) for a roundtable on building international solidarity in anti-colonial organizing, moderated by Anupa Mistry.
COST:
PWYC
May
-
Wednesday May 1
MAY DAY! SUPPORT WORKERS!
-
Thursday May 2
WHAT:
ROUNDTABLE SESSION: Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement in Film
WHERE:
CFMDC, 1411 Dufferin St, Unit D
TIME:
Doors 5:30pm, event 6pm
INFO:
Join our roundtable session discussing strategies for filmmakers to actively support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanction Movement. Speakers will include Jess Devaney, Nataleah Hunter-Young, and more to be confirmed.
COST:
PWYC
-
Friday May 3
WHAT:
OUTDOOR FILM SCREENING
WHERE:
Location announced before event, DM @wawog_to on instagram for location
TIME:
8:30pm
INFO:
Shorts film program featuring works from Muhammad Nour El-Khairy, Mohamed Jabaly, Razan AlSalah & more. Followed by Mohamed Jabaly in conversation with Serene Hosni.
COST:
PWYC
-
Saturday May 4
WHAT:
GAZA LIVES 3 and a selection of curated Toronto Palestine Film Festival shorts.
WHERE:
Music Gallery, 918 Bathurst St
TIME:
Remarks begin at 7pm
INFO:
Join us for an evening of Gaza lives: Honouring Palestinian artists – a night of readings, screenings, and art. This will be followed by a selection of short films provided by TPFF.
-
Sunday May 5, Evening
WHAT:
Closing Event at Pamenar
WHERE:
Pamenar, 307 Augusta Ave
TIME:
8:30pm to late
INFO:
Head to Pamenar for a social and meet-and-greet for comrades. The evening will feature liberation-focused and experimental music by DJs Nomad Nala, Smooth Transitions, Booolean, Heebiejabi, and Nazanin
All proceeds will be split between UNRWA and the Toronto Community Justice Fund
COST:
$10/PWYC
Event Details
Fundraising
All funds raised will cover No Arms in the Arts festival costs. Any surplus will fund artists and future campaign efforts.
ACCESS + COVID SAFETY INFO:
Facemasks are strongly recommended at all indoor events; KN95 masks & sanitizer provided.
Accessibility info for each indoor venue:
Seaton Park
14 Albany Avenue, north of Bloor, east of Bathurst (Map)
TTC: Bathurst
There is assistive mobility device and foot access to the park via Albany Avenue
Seating: there are traditional park benches and concrete chairs with tables in the park
Innis Town Hall
2 Sussex Avenue at St George, south of Bloor (Map)
TTC: St George
Innis College is fully accessible on the main floor, including Town Hall. There are four dedicated spaces for assistive mobility devices at the rear of Town Hall, and the theatre has power-assisted doors for full access. Please note: while the stage is accessible, stage doors are not power assisted. Assistive-listening devices are also available. An accessible gender-neutral washroom is located on the third floor of the east wing. Please direct any accessibility inquiries to rentals.innis@utoronto.ca.
Cafe Pamenar
307 Augusta Avenue, south of College (Map)
TTC: 510 Spadina streetcar to College or 506 College Streetcar to Augusta
Main floor of Pamenar is accessible in the main bar area; washrooms are in the basement down one flight of staris and unfortunately not accessible; there are a variety of chairs and stools for seating including outdoor spaces on both front and back patio. This is a licensed venue.
Gallery TPW
170 St. Helen’s Avenue (Map)
TTC: Lansdowne Station (approximately 10-12 minute walk) 505 Dundas streetcar, 506 College streetcar, 47 Lansdowne bus
Gallery TPW has ramp access, an accessible ground-floor washroom, and clear, unobstructed pathways within the gallery. Please note that there are no automatic doors at the entrance or washroom and no designated accessible parking nearby. This screening will be seated in chairs and floor seating is also available. If you require other seating options, please email reassemblagecollective@gmail.com
The Commons
401 Richmond Street West, 4th Floor (Map)
TTC: 510 Spadina streetcar to Queen/Richmond; Osgoode Station
Fully accessible building, ramp for mobility devices at front (West) door (close to Spadina, next door to Mamma’s Pizza) as well as back (East) door, on Richmond just west of Peter Street. Elevator is in the middle of the building. Accessible washrooms on each floor, and close to 4th floor event area. Event will have chairs and benches. If you require other seating options, please email reassemblagecollective@gmail.com
CFMDC
1411 Dufferin Street, Unit D, north of Dupont Street (Map)
TTC: 29 Dufferin bus to Geary Avenue; 127 Davenport bus to Dufferin
Small ramp to enter venue down alley from Dufferin; Wheelchair accessible venue; indoor seating, two washrooms on ground floor
918 Bathurst / Music Gallery
918 Bathurst Street, north of Bloor (Map)
TTC: Bathurst Station, 7 Bathurst to Bathurst/Barton
918 Bathurst is not fully accessible due to stairs: Two steps to the main entrance, a half-flight to enter the performance space, and a half-flight to access the washrooms and the Music Gallery office.