Call for Proposals: 45th Anniversary Retrospective Zine
THE LIAISON OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS OF TORONTO (LIFT)
ANNOUNCES CALL FOR PROPOSALS:
45TH ANNIVERSARY RETROSPECTIVE ZINE
Toronto, June 12, 2026—Earlier this year on April 8, 2026, the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) celebrated its 45th Anniversary. It’s exciting and humbling to reflect on the impact we have made over the years on the lives of independent filmmakers, whether it’s through our workshop program, our mentorships, our affordable rental rates for members, our community outreach programs, or our commissioning and production support projects. Seeing the list of names of filmmakers who have been a part of LIFT’s history continues to be inspiring.
We are assembling a zine for LIFT’s 45th anniversary! We invite our past and present members to share their writing, poetry, or still images on the topic of “Time” with the broader LIFT community!
The piece will draw from LIFT’s archives as well as on new written or still works from members and be sold as a fundraising effort in late summer 2026. The theme of “Time” can be interpreted in many ways, with works either concerning the idea of film as a time-based medium, LIFT or film history, or the changing technologies that assert themselves into our practice as filmmakers.
You may also respond in some way to a piece from the online LIFT publication archive concerning time, for example “Kodachrome is Dead, Long Live Kodachrome” (Daniel Albahary, FilmPrint 2005), “LIFT 2001 Time Capsule” (Jason Romilly, Newsletter March/April 2001), “A Cautionary Note for the Millenium” (Steve Radonjic, Newsletter January 2000), or “Film and Nostalgia Served up on the Net” (Shannon Brownlee, Newsletter Nov/Dec 2000).
Requirements:
– Written or visual still work (e.g. essays, comics, artwork, or stills from your film).
– Responds to the theme of “Time” (and film) in some way.
– Word count cannot exceed 500 words.
– You must be the copyright holder of the work.
– Written works should be sent in PDF or .doc format, images in .jpg or .png.
– Please note that selected works will be printed in black in white only, not in colour.
Submissions must include:
– First and Last Name.
– Title of work.
– Year work was created.
– Label your file name (FirstNameLastName_LIFT45thZine.extension).
Deadline: Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 11:59pm ET
Results will be announced in mid July.
Selected written works will receive an honorarium of $40.00.
Selected images will receive proper credit and attribution.
Questions can be emailed to:
LIFT Summer Conference and Meeting Planner Mia Buono at mbuono@lift.ca
Subject Heading: Call for Submissions for 45th Anniversary Retrospective Zine – First and Last Name
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. http://lift.ca
LIFT is supported by self-generated revenue as well as the following year-round funders: the Canada Council for the Arts (CCA), the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), Ontario Arts Foundation, the Government of Ontario and the Toronto Arts Council (TAC).
As a charitable organization, LIFT graciously accepts donations via our CanadaHelps page. If you would like to support our filmmaking community, please visit https://lift.ca/donate
Friday 12 June 2026 – Sunday 28 June 2026
Non-members: Free to submit.
Members: Free to submit.
Location:
Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
1137 Dupont Street
Toronto Ontario