International creative festival OFFF will launch its first-ever Montréal edition this September, bringing a global line-up of designers, artists and technologists to the city’s Société des arts technologiques (SAT) for two days of talks, workshops and studio visits.
Founded in Barcelona in 2001, OFFF has become a global fixture for creatives working across design, digital culture, and storytelling. Its mission is to offer a space for collaboration, exploration, and exchange by connecting curious minds and championing what’s next. Montréal marks the latest stop on its international tour, following events in cities like Vienna, Tel Aviv, and Mexico City.
What’s most interesting is that OFFF Montréal isn’t just a carbon copy of the Barcelona original. Instead, it’s a reflection of the city itself – multidisciplinary, community-driven, and unafraid to mix things up. The two-day festival will bring together international heavyweights and local talent through a programme of talks, workshops, studio visits, and experimental experiences.
Global roots, local spirit
OFFF founder Pep Salazar is clear on why Montréal was next on the list. “Montréal has always been on our radar,” he says. “It’s a real hub for creatives, studios, factories, freelancers… and also for its dynamic scene on culture, digital creativity and festivals.”
It’s not entirely new territory either, as the team previously held OFFF Québec just outside the city, and Pep describes Montréal as “an old friend”. This new edition builds on that relationship but with a refreshed, more centralised presence downtown and a broader, more inclusive programme.
OFFF Montréal also overlaps with FORUM (5–7 September), the city’s annual design assembly founded by local studio Caserne, which is also the creative force behind OFFF Montréal’s visual identity. Their involvement goes beyond graphics, though.
“Caserne spoke at OFFF Barcelona in May and later approached us with the idea of a collaboration,” Pep explains. “It was easy and natural to work together on a co-imagined campaign.”
This partnership has sparked a new hybrid concept: OFFForum. A fusion of global energy and local insight, it’s a theme that runs through the entire festival.
Who’s speaking?
OFFF is known for its carefully curated speaker line-ups, and the Montréal edition is no exception. Highlights include Montreal-based animation studio Tendril, Spanish brand identity legends Lo Siento, London’s motion design innovators Found, and visual storytelling specialists Territory Studio. There’s also Volvox Labs (NYC), Studio Roses (Barcelona), Vallée Duhamel (Montréal), and the multidisciplinary artist Will MacNeil, who will create the festival’s Main Titles piece.
In true OFFF fashion, the speaker list doesn’t stop at design. Canadian winemaker and regenerative agriculture advocate Véronique Lemieux is also on the bill. “With this line-up, I want to introduce inspiring new voices, new profiles, new focus… not just what we already know,” says Pep. “Winemaking is not easy, and has a lot of innovation and design behind it.”
The festival’s structure, as ever, is designed for fluidity, with talks and workshops interwoven with immersive experiences. Expect 12 keynote sessions covering everything from AI-assisted storytelling and interactive installations to brand identity and motion design.
A rare look inside Moment Factory
One of the most anticipated elements of the Montréal edition is an exclusive studio visit to Moment Factory, the multimedia studio responsible for transforming everything from airport terminals to immersive live shows. Attendees will get hands-on access to interactive installations and behind-the-scenes insights into the studio’s creative process.
“It’s a great opportunity to visit this outstanding studio and understand how space is important for creativity,” says Pep. “Attendees will test installations in beta and join two workshops to understand how Moment Factory works from the inside.”
This isn’t the only moment of intimacy in the programme. Workshops led by Volvox Labs offer a chance to get tactile with tech, while the surrounding FORUM events provide further opportunities to meet, learn, and experiment.
Reimagining the future of visual culture
At its heart, OFFF has always been about sparking possibility, but it’s not interested in predictable trends or glossy outcomes. Instead, it’s a space for ideas in progress. And that ethos is clear in the way the Montréal edition fuses disciplines: from visual effects to viticulture, traditional branding to AI-generated imagery.
“We always blend different visions, disciplines and work dynamics,” Pep says. “From the magicians of Motion and Houdini to the kings of visual interactivity, and the most advanced storytelling using AI tools – it’s all part of how we shape the future of visual communication.”
This willingness to evolve is what’s helped OFFF stay relevant for nearly 25 years, but what keeps it grounded is the way each edition leans into its host city. OFFF Montréal isn’t just dropping – it’s embedding itself in the city’s creative ecosystem.
“OFFF is an ecosystem within other ecosystems,” Pep adds. “By working locally as much as we can – with Caserne, FORUM, SAT, Phi Center, and more – we ensure each city brings something unique.”
Tickets, details, and next stops
OFFF Montréal takes place at the SAT on 8–9 September. Tickets are now available via the SAT website, with the full speaker line-up and programme updates available at offfmontreal.com.
The Montréal edition is just one of several OFFF festivals happening this year, with upcoming events in Mexico (28–29 August) and Seville (27–29 November). If the Montréal launch is anything to go by, this isn’t just another stop on the tour – it’s a creative collision designed to leave a lasting impression.
