This year marks the 28th installment of the International Festival of Films on Art, and it doesn't seem to be going away or getting smaller. With over two hundred films from twenty three counties, my main problem is what to see.

Trying to keep things reasonable, I started off this weekend by seeing my two top picks: Tadao Ando: Koshino House and Offre Moi Ton Corps . One turned out to be and unappealing one-liner, while the other was a beautifully organized exploration of its' subject. Which is pretty much how I like my film festivals, full of surprises, both for better and for worse.

I always like to think that the reason so many artists migrate to Montréal is due to a powerful mythical draw, which only the hypersensitive or the slightly insane are attune to.

But now this group Making It Montréal wants to rain on my parade by having rational discussions about why so many artists choose to live and work here. Still, after being snowed, sleeted and rained on for four solid months, I guess even I could use some explanation of what we are all (still) doing in this city.

The March 2nd event will be the second discussion and first show put on by Making It Montréal, who make it their mandate to present the perspectives of Anglophone artists who have chosen to call Montréal home. The discussion coincides with a showing of some fine, fine printmaking by the super-talented Kiarra Albina, Tyler Rauman,Jesse Purcell and Harley Smart. I recommend staying far, far away as they are selling work during the vernisage and you may experience strong compulsions to buy some.

The folks at Circo Hiverno sure don't need me to tell them that that their quirky variety act, ranging from stunning dance performances to an offbeat magic show delivered by a some guy in a used car salesman getup, was extremely successful. I don't doubt from the loudly appreciative packed house on Friday night that all three of their latest performances mark another victorious round for this circus act.

One of my favorite things about the show is that there is no overarching theme or grand guiding concept. What do a drunken Jazz singer, a quirky janitor and a daring aerialist have in common? Not that much, apart from all being awesome. Despite this, the many different acts were well integrated, each one led seamlessly into the next as each performer tried to outdo the last.

Last Friday, the 22nd of January, three very different artists presented their work together at EasternBloc. While I often associate EasternBloc with the loud, the wild and the psychedelic, this gathering was quiet and contemplative.

One of six plays featured at this year's Wildside Festival, Dust is the story of two soldiers working in the Abu Ghraib, falling in love in a desperate situation.

Written and is this case directed by Jason Maghanoy, the play has been performed several times since 2006 when it was first presented as a solo show at the National Theatre School of Canada. For the Wildside, the two main (and only!) characters are played by Brandon Coffey, in the role of Jonathan and Jessica Moss, as Jenny. Both actors really give this play a lot- delivering energetic performances that pull off everything from sweetly sincere to chillingly sinister. Jessica Moss pushes especially hard at these limits, showing both a charming exuberance as well as a chilling lack of empathy or understanding.

Two artist run centres exhibit baffling re-interpretations of objects previously known as books.