Nikki Shaffeeullah

A formerly successful Montreal musician trudges through the darkest days of winter, armed with a backpack full of weed and a repertoire of Alanis Morissette covers. Dogged by her ex-band mate’s new hit song, Jaine mourns the loss of her career, her band and her self respect. In the heart of the city’s independent music scene, the snow covered Plateau, Jaine encounters both allies and obstacles, including her best friend-slash-roommate Mari, her married ex-lover-slash- manager David, and her charming new customer-slash-potential love interest, Darren. When a glittering opportunity in the Emerald City of Toronto threatens to lure her into a shiny new life, Jaine struggles to sever old ties. Her ex wants her to move on, her mom wants her to move to Toronto, her best friend wants things to stay the same forever, and her clients just want weed, but Jaine has other plans.

Zena, a usually confident young queer woman with an anxiety-induced supernatural streak, is forced to face off with a meddling relative when she returns to her family’s mosque with her partner in tow to attend the funeral of a beloved community member.

Fireworks are used in protest to advocate for prison abolition in "Fly Away with Me" by Maude Matton, Amina Mohamed and Nikki Shaffeeullah. Told through the monologue of a prison drone, the insidious labour of state surveillance is enacted through the mantra 'surveil, contain, protect.'