Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)

08/21/2026

LIFT announces our 45th Anniversary Retrospective Zine
After an open call earlier this year, we’re pleased to announce that the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)'s 45th Anniversary Retrospective Zine is finally complete! Featuring written work and images old and new, from members former and current, this zine reflects on the role of time in LIFT’s history, and in our practice as filmmakers.
With new technologies and techniques developed every day, how have filmmakers responded and adapted to these changes? Reflect on and celebrate our history as an organization with us. All proceeds fund LIFT’s commitment to supporting the craft of filmmaking.
Missed the chance to grab the zine at our 45th Anniversary Fundraiser? You can purchase a copy for $15.00 CAD (plus shipping if applicable) via the online LIFT Store. Local in-person purchases can be made during LIFT office hours.
Questions:
Inquiries should be directly emailed to [email protected]
Subject Heading: LIFT 45th Anniversary Zine Purchase – First and Last Name
Full details:
https://lift.ca/programming-home/lifts-45th-anniversary-zine

08/19/2026

🥰🎬 to the LIFT Open Screening - June 2026, held on Friday, June 26, 2026. It was a great turn-out a couple of months ago! Visit https://instagram.com/p/DcNMConjj1e for more pictures!

08/18/2026

🎉🔥 Congratulations to everyone, including current LIFT Member Asmi Chandola, for being selected for the Canadian Film Centre (CFC)'s 2026 Paul Bronfman Family Cinematography Intensive!
Details: https://cfccreates.com/canadian-film-centre-canadian-society-of-cinematographers-announes-the-2026-five-cinematographers-to-the-paul-bronfman-family-cinematography-intensive/

Thrilled to welcome the 2026 Paul Bronfman Family Cinematography Intensive cohort! 🎉🎉🎬

Thank you to the Paul Bronfman Family Foundation, our partners at the CSC, and our generous contributing partners for championing emerging talent and the future of Canadian storytelling.

Read more about our cohort! Link in bio our bio 📹

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08/17/2026

REMINDER! Join the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) for our August 2026 Open Screening, happening THIS THURSDAY. Full detail at https://lift.ca/programming-home/open-screening-august-2026/

LIFT announces Open Screening - August 2026
Join the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) for our August 2026 Open Screening. The event will take place on Thursday, August 20, 2026 in the Main Classroom at the LIFT facility (located at 1137 Dupont)
The event is an opportunity to show new films, audiovisual experiments, found footage and works-in-progress. There is no submission process as films will not be curated. The event is first come, first screened. We will accept up to 90 minutes of work.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
LIFT Main Classroom
1137 Dupont Street
Screening starts at 7:00pm
Admission:
Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC) with suggested donation of $5.00
Cash accepted at the door.
Light refreshments will be served.
Full details and requirements for films:
https://lift.ca/programming-home/open-screening-august-2026
Questions and accessibility inquiries should be emailed to:
Summer 2026 Conference and Meeting Planner Mia Buono at [email protected]
Subject Heading: August 2026 Open Screening – First and Last Name

08/17/2026

Are you working on a great short film idea? Apply to pitch it live at the SUBMISSION–30th annual Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival as part of this year’s Pitch! competition. Applications close TOMORROW, Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 11:59PM ET.

08/12/2026

Aug 12 via The Toronto Star—"Talking, texting and feet on seats: Have Torontonians forgotten how to behave at the movies? And with movie theatres once again filling up for major releases, it raises a familiar question: have we forgotten how to behave at the movies?" 👀🤫
Details: https://archive.is/N32lv

08/12/2026

Aug 12 via The Toronto Star—"Talking, texting and feet on seats: Have Torontonians forgotten how to behave at the movies?...And with movie theatres once again filling up for major releases, it raises a familiar question: have we forgotten how to behave at the movies??" 👀 🤫
Details:

As blockbusters like ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘The Odyssey’ pack GTA theatres, moviegoers say phone scrolling and bad etiquette are back.

08/11/2026

🎬🎉 LIFT's Summer 2026 Workshops: August 24-29
Check out these upcoming filmmaking workshops:
Sound Design with Pro-Tools
In-person
Monday August 24 and Wednesday August 26
Crafting the Perfect Pitch Package
In-person
Tuesday August 25 and Thursday August 27
Visit https://lift.ca/workshops for full details and to register ASAP!

08/10/2026

APPLY—Are you an Indigenous storyteller with a bold, original idea for a 16mm short film? Want to take your skills to the next level and showcase your work at the 2027 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Toronto? Apply for the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) / imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival Mentorship to make a short film on analogue!
Applications close Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
Apply: https://imaginenative.org/institute/mentorship

08/10/2026

THIS WEEK—Our Introduction to Post Production Sound workshop with George Flores Sound Post Inc. this week has a few spots left! Register by 5:00pm on Wednesday to secure a seat! Register here: https://lift.ca/workshop-registration/?workshopcat=0&event=2015