2026 Training Initiative – Virtual Production Storytelling with Unreal Engine
THE LIAISON OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS OF TORONTO (LIFT)
ANNOUNCES 2026 TRAINING INITIATIVE:
VIRTUAL PRODUCTION STORYTELLING WITH UNREAL ENGINE
Toronto, December 10, 2025—The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), in partnership with Screen Industry Training Hub (SITHub), announce a new training initiative for the coming year funded by the Canada Media Fund (CMF).
The Virtual Production Storytelling with Unreal Engine program is an intensive 36-hour training initiative scheduled weekly from March to April 2026. This program is structured to educate ten (10) Ontario-based independent creators from equity-deserving groups on the leading-edge creative workflows and tools in Unreal Engine. Using a hybrid model, the program will deliver a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates practical training, mentorship, presentations and an in-studio experience.
Each week filmmakers will explore the workflow with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 5.7 to learn the fundamental tools and techniques used to create short animated films using virtual 3D environments and human-designed digital characters. Using real-time tools, this hands-on training will introduce and mentor students to the concepts of visualizing their scripts using high quality environments and digital characters to bring their stories to life.
Unreal Engine (UE) is a 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games, Fortnite’s online video game platform developer. It has since been used in a variety of genres of games and adopted by other industries, most notably the film and television industry for Virtual Production.
With UE, filmmakers have unprecedented creative control with 3D assets and developer tools that they can reuse across every phase of pre-production and production. The toolset allows artists to build stunning photoreal sets or uniquely stylized worlds, create compelling digital characters, visualize and block scenes, animate characters and cinematics, explore versions through editing and power entire production from first concept to finished experience.
Questions can be emailed to:
Screen Industry Training Hub’s Director, Shenaz Baksh at sbaksh@sithub.ca
Subject Heading: Virtual Production Storytelling with Unreal Engine 2026 – First and Last Name
Full application details will be announced in January 2026.
An online information session will be available the week of January 12, 2026.
This training initiative is funded by the Canada Media Fund’s (CMF) Sector Development Support Program.
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The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voice, and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors. https://cmf-fmc.ca
The Screen Industry Training Hub (SITHub) is an Epic Games Unreal Authorized Training Centre, and a creative screen industry training and consulting company based in Toronto. With over two decades of experience, our team designs and delivers intensive professional development solutions in Filmmaking, Television Production, Video Game Production and Extended Reality. We focus on innovative tools and technologies, collaborate with our partners to promote inclusive opportunities and prioritize cultivation of the next leading storytellers. https://sithub.ca
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
Starting: Monday 2 March 2026 00:00
Non Members: Free to apply, details to come.
Members: Free to apply, details to come.
Location:
Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)