Winterlewd 2025
Queer Comedy Festival Breaks Barriers and Builds Community
Montreal's vibrant queer comedy scene is bursting forth from the winter doldrums with the second annual Winterlewd festival. Building on the success of its inaugural year, Winterlewd 2025 expands its reach with a focus on inclusivity, collaboration, and showcasing the diverse talents within the LGBTQ+ community. Forget The Box caught up with festival organizer Nat Pace to delve into the inspiration, challenges, and triumphs of bringing this unique event to life.
From DIY Punk Shows to Collaborative Comedy
Nat Pace, a seasoned producer and comedian, brings a wealth of experience to Winterlewd. Their journey began in Kitchener, organizing DIY all-ages queer punk shows while playing in a band. This passion for creating inclusive spaces and amplifying marginalized voices continued with their involvement in the Pervers/Cité festival in 2020 and 2021.
Pace's dedication to fostering a vibrant queer comedy scene in Montreal led to the creation of Bulge, a show specifically highlighting the talents of trans and gender-diverse comedians. "Bulge was a real passion project," Pace explains, "a way to create a safe and supportive space for performers who often face barriers in mainstream comedy." This experience laid the groundwork for Winterlewd, which Pace envisioned as a way to expand that collaborative spirit and bring together the wider queer comedy community.
"Producing Bulge allowed me to make a lot of contacts in the local queer comedy scene here in Montreal," Pace shares. "It's those contacts that I'm leveraging to put on Winterlewd." But Winterlewd is more than just an extension of Bulge; it's a platform for collaboration and community building. "I wanted to break out of solo producing and do something that brought together the hugely talented queer comedy community," Pace explains. "Bulge is a show specifically for trans and gender-diverse comedians, and there were many cis queer comics I wanted to work with as well. Winterlewd provided a space to do that."
Building a Stronger, More Inclusive Scene
Winterlewd is more than just a comedy festival; it's a platform for breaking down barriers and building bridges within the LGBTQ+ community. Pace emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and showcasing the full spectrum of queer identities. "I wanted to create something that celebrates the incredible diversity within our community," Pace shares. "We have so many talented artists with unique perspectives, and Winterlewd is about bringing them together and giving them a space to shine."
One of the key goals of Winterlewd is to bridge the gap between Montreal's English and French queer comedy scenes. "Montreal is a bilingual city, but sometimes it feels like there are two solitudes within the arts community," Pace observes. "Winterlewd is about creating a space where everyone feels welcome and can connect with each other, regardless of language." This year's festival includes "Debout.tes/Stand-Up," a bilingual stand-up showcase, as a testament to this commitment.
Pace also sees Winterlewd as an opportunity to challenge the existing power dynamics within the comedy world. "Being trans, I'm ready to be heckled at any random open mic on a Tuesday," Pace shares, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by trans and marginalized comedians. "But I also believe in the power of grassroots movements and the freedom of expression they offer. Winterlewd has so little sponsorship, but I also appreciate the freedom that lends us to do whatever we want and say whatever we want, and not worry about hurting the feelings of funders."
A Friendly Takeover of the Village
This year, Winterlewd takes over Montreal's Gay Village, aiming to animate local businesses and non-profits while challenging the neighborhood's reputation for catering primarily to white cis gay men. "It's time for a friendly takeover," Pace declares. "We're bringing the full spectrum of queer comedy to the Village, showcasing the incredible talent and diversity within our community." This focus on the Village adds another layer of inclusivity, aiming to create a welcoming space for all members of the queer community within a traditionally exclusive environment.
Pace acknowledges the challenges of organizing in the Village, a neighborhood with a complex history and sometimes exclusive atmosphere. "It's been a learning experience," Pace admits. "There are definitely some systemic barriers to overcome, but we're committed to creating a more inclusive and welcoming space for everyone." Pace also notes the difficulties faced in securing venues, stating, "Ironically, and somewhat expectedly, I simply could not get an email or call back from the gay bars I reached out to."
From Experiment to Established Festival
Building on the success of its first year, Winterlewd 2025 expands its programming with a public call for events, resulting in a four-day lineup featuring 12 diverse shows. "Even running the festival last year was quite the triumph," Pace reflects. "We were building the airplane in the sky! This year, we're feeling more prepared and less frantic, and we're excited to see the name and brand catching on."
The festival's growth is a testament to the dedication and passion of Pace and the Winterlewd team. "We're doing this as volunteers with a small amount of grant money," Pace shares. "The rest of the expenses are out of pocket, but it's all worth it to see this festival come to life."
Collaboration and Community Building
Collaboration is at the heart of Winterlewd. "The first Winterlewd was a total experiment," Pace explains. "I worked closely with Lauren Mallory to put together something at the 11th hour, and I'm happy with what we came up with." This year, the festival continues to foster collaboration by working with a variety of producers and shows. "We invited a lot of regular shows to join the lineup," Pace says, "like Poly mic and Stand Up Saint Henri."
The festival also emphasizes building a strong sense of community. "Improv itself attracts a certain kind of person," Pace observes, "and we really value making people feel welcome and making people feel like they've got a place. For me, the warmth of the community is number one." This focus on community is evident in the festival's programming, which includes workshops, a "Comedy Camp," and events designed to bring people together.
Looking Ahead
Pace is optimistic about the future of Winterlewd. "I'm looking forward to the name and brand catching on so it can be even bigger next year," they share. They also envision expanding the festival's reach beyond Montreal. "I would love to do collaborative events in Ottawa and Toronto," Pace says. "I think the brand and the concept is strong. The gays want something to do in the Winter."
With its commitment to inclusivity, artistic innovation, and community building, Winterlewd is poised to become a cornerstone of Montreal's cultural landscape. As the festival continues to grow and evolve, it promises to inspire, challenge, and entertain, solidifying Montreal's reputation as a hub for diverse and vibrant artistic expression.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
While Winterlewd doesn't have specific accessibility or inclusivity goals, Pace acknowledges that these are important considerations. "It's obviously on the mind," they say, "but we don't have goals so much as aspirations and standards we try to meet." The festival strives to create a welcoming and accessible environment for all members of the queer community, recognizing that there is always more work to be done in this area.
Sponsors and Supporters
Winterlewd 2025 is supported by a Lasterisk leadership grant and receives some funding from a Canada Council of the Arts project. While the festival operates with limited financial resources, Pace appreciates the creative freedom this allows. "We can do whatever we want and say whatever we want," Pace says, "and not worry about hurting the feelings of funders."
Words of Wisdom
Pace encourages anyone interested in getting involved in Winterlewd or future festivals to "start early, ask for help, learn to delegate, prioritize, promote, embrace uncertainty, stay organized, and drink water!" With its commitment to community, inclusivity, and artistic expression, Winterlewd is a testament to the power of grassroots movements and the transformative potential of laughter.
2025 schedule
Enter The Genderverse
Where: Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal, 1568 Rue Wolfe, Montréal
When: Thursday, March 6 @ 7:30PM
Details: Facebook
Criminal Queers (Film Screening)
Where: Theatre Sainte Catherine Café-Bar, 260 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montréal
When: Friday, March 7 @ 7PM
Details: Facebook
Blushin' Slush Storytime
Where: Theatre Sainte Catherine Café-Bar, 260 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montréal
When: Friday, March 7 @ 9PM
Details: Facebook
Scream Collectif
Where: Papineau Metro - 1425 Rue Cartier, Montréal
When: Saturday, March 8 @ 12PM
Details: Facebook
Chosen Family Portrait Studio
Where: L’Étage, 1988 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montréal
When: Saturday, March 8 @ 1PM
Details: Facebook
Play In the Everyday - Clowning workshop
Where: L’Étage, 1988 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montréal
When: Saturday, March 8 @ 2PM
Details: Facebook
Ferda [Sesame] Boys: A Transmasc Sketch Comedy table reading
Where: L’Étage, 1988 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montréal
When: Saturday, March 8 @ 4PM
Details: Facebook
Debout•tes/Stand-up
Where: Theatre Sainte Catherine Café-Bar, 260 Rue Ste-Catherine E, Montréal
When: Saturday, March 8 @ 8PM
Details: Facebook
Queers on Ice
Where: Parc Lafontaine
When: Sunday, March 9 @ 12PM
Details: Facebook
Comedy for Gen Z Dummies: Workshop by and for people born after 2000
Where: Robin Des Bois, 3849 Avenue du Parc-La Fontaine, Montréal
When: Sunday, March 9 @ 3PM
Details: Facebook
Clowndom: A night of Tomfoolery
Where: Turbo Haüs, 2036 Rue St-Denis, Montréal
When: Sunday, March 9 @ 7:30PM
Details: Facebook
