LIFT Welcomes New Staff – September 2024

Incoming Technical Administrator KJ Edwards
(Photo by Renata Mohamed)

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September 27, 2024

Welcome to New Technical Administrator KJ Edwards

The staff of the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) would like to welcome our new Technical Administrator, KJ Edwards, who joined us at the beginning of September. KJ joins Noah Henderson and Karl Reinsalu in the Technical Department, serving our members by providing production access through our rental facility and store. She has already jumped into the fray during our busiest month of the year, bringing her energy and enthusiasm to the team as we juggle support for the many projects our members are launching in the fall. We’re excited about having her join our team and look forward to her contributions to the organization and the many members we serve.

Any equipment rental inquiries can be directed to KJ at tech@lift.ca.

“I’m beyond excited to join the LIFT Team! The position will allow me space to learn new skills, techniques and gear. But I’m most looking forward to having analogue adventures with LIFT film fam! Thank you Robin for helping to onboard me and guide me through the new role. It’s already been a ton of fun!”
—KJ Edwards

KJ Edwards is a Kanien’kehá:ka, mixed-settler filmmaker and media artist. Her family is from Kahnawa:ké and Longueuil, Quebec, Canada; while KJ was born and raised in Treaty 6 Territory, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Holding a BFA in Film Production from the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), KJ is trained in narrative, documentary and experimental filmmaking techniques, using both analogue and digital hybrid workflows. She is a 2023 MFA graduate from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. KJ’s thesis work involved eco processing analogue film, reflecting on the unpredictability of the medium as that of a collaborator, and the ways that dreams and memory can offer creative pathways toward content creation. Their short analogue films istén:’a (2023) and future ready: cusp (2023) are making festival rounds. She currently has a hybrid installation-short film called “Tethers” in production.

KJ’s position is supported by Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training.

Current Technical Administrator Robin Riad will be shifting over to a new role as the Special Projects Manager starting October 1, 2024 and can be reached at specialprojects@lift.ca