LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2024 Mentorship Announcement
2024 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Kira Doxtator
Photo by Renata Mohamed
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THE LIAISON OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS OF TORONTO (LIFT)
AND THE IMAGINENATIVE FILM + MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL
2024 MENTORSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Toronto, June 6, 2025—Last fall, the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) selected Ottawa-based Oneida, Anishinaabe, and Dakota artist Kira Doxtator as the recipient of the 19th annual LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship. This annual mentorship was developed to offer an Indigenous artist living in the Greater Toronto Area the opportunity to expand their practice into the realm of film, and present their new work in a professional context. Her film “The Fourth World Problems Collective,” is based on a story by Leanne Simpson in an Indigiqueer glimpse at urban maple tree harvesters, exploring the dynamics of the young characters as they clandestinely tap neighbourhood trees.
Kira was enrolled in LIFT’s seasonal workshops this fall season and was provided with access to and mentorship around LIFT’s production and post-production equipment. She received additional financial and resource support from imagineNATIVE and mentorship partners to complete a film for premiere at the 2025 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival (June 3-8, 2025 in Toronto and June 9-15, 2025 for the online festival). Through the generous support of lead industry partner Netflix, imagineNATIVE has been able to expand their financial contribution to the LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship Program to help Indigenous artists bring their short films to life.
“Kira’s project is a unique take on the urban environment and its relationship to the natural world. We were quite taken by her initial pitch and look forward to seeing the film come to fruition. She hit the ground running and we’re excited to support this film. Kira’s project reminds us how important it is to support new filmmakers and new ideas,” says Chris Kennedy, LIFT’s Executive Director.
Kira Doxtator is Oneida, Anishinaabe, and Dakota and from Ottawa, Ontario. She is a graduate of UBCʼs BA Cinema Studies Program, she began her work in the film industry as a Production Assistant for the APTN series “Moosemeat & Marmalade” in 2021. She has worked in the Vancouver independent short film community, and was a participant in the 2021-2022 WarnerMedia Access to Action program, and has worked on feature films, MOWs, commercials and independent projects, and in the growing Indigenous film community, most recently working as a TAD on Indigenous feature films. Kira worked for the Indigenous Curatorial Collective in 2022, and assisted in the planning of an hybrid gathering, as well as helped organize a selection of Indigiqueer Films for a special screening in partnership with the Toronto Queer Film Festival. She was also the recipient of the 2022 Indigenous Filmmaker Bursary from Vancouver Film Studios and Pacific Backlot, to create a short film titled “A Poem For My Future,” that she wrote, produced and directed with the help of a cast and crew of 25. Kira works as a producer for Senklip Productions, and hopes to continue her career in the industry working closely with strong Indigenous women, sharing stories of finding power and joy. Her goal as a film producer is to create cinema that tells healing-focused, and Indigenous futurist stories. She also works as a model and actress, and enjoys spending time at home with her family on the land, dancing, singing, and crafting. https://www.instagram.com/kiradoxtator
Previous year’s mentees include actor and choreographer Michael Greyeyes (Seven Seconds); Dora and Juno Award nominee Jani Lauzon (eu•tha•na•sia); Michelle Latimer (Tomorrow); Tyler Hagan (Estuary), Adrienne Marcus Raja (Soli), Jaene Castrillon (Celebration of Darkness), Jamie Whitecrow (Heidi Lost), Samay Arcentales Cajas (In Moment), Natasha Naveau (Menaptwi (Smoked)), Cole Forrest (Into Water), Tim Miles (Little Bird) and Jordan Wanakamik (Burned).
Kira will premiere her new short in-person at the 25th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival on Friday, June 6, 2025. Film viewing availability during the online Festival will run from June 9-15, 2025.
On behalf of the Selection Committee, thank you to all of this year’s incredible applicants! To find out more about this annual mentorship, and other artistic opportunities available through imagineNATIVE, please contact Institute Coordinator Bliss Bondy at bliss@imaginenative.org
Follow this program on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: #LIFTiNMentorship
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About the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is Canada’s foremost artist-run production and education organization dedicated to celebrating excellence in the moving image. LIFT exists to provide support and encouragement for independent filmmakers and artists through affordable access to production, post-production and exhibition equipment; professional and creative development; workshops and courses; commissioning and exhibitions; artist-residencies; and a variety of other services. LIFT is supported by its membership, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Arts Foundation, the Government of Ontario and the Toronto Arts Council. https://lift.ca
About the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is the largest international festival of its kind that celebrates the latest works by Indigenous peoples on the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio and new media. The imagineNATIVE Institute, a department within the organization, also runs year-round professional development opportunities for Indigenous screen creatives, and hosts a series of industry relevant talks each Spring. Each fall, the Festival presents a selection of the most compelling and distinctive Indigenous works from around the globe. The festival’s screenings, parties, panel discussions, and cultural events attract and connect filmmakers, media artists, programmers, buyers, and industry professionals. The works accepted reflect the diversity of the world’s Indigenous nations and illustrate the vitality and excellence of our art and culture in contemporary media. This year’s festival takes place in-person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox from October 17-22, and move to online streaming and iNdigital platforms from October 22-29, 2023. https://imaginenative.org
About Netflix
Netflix is the world’s leading internet entertainment service with over 148 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. https://www.netflix.com
Thursday 29 August 2024 – Sunday 15 June 2025
Non-members:
Members:
Location:
Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
1137 Dupont Street
Toronto Ontario