LIFT Staff Farewell – September 2023

(L-R) Esteban Powell and Poppi Fella Pellegrino

September 1, 2023

Best Wishes to Summer Staff Esteban Powell and Poppi Fella Pellegrino

LIFT would like to thank Esteban Powell and Poppi Fella Pellegrino for all their work this summer in their Canada Summer Jobs positions. Esteban worked in the Technical Department assisting Robin Riad, Karl Reinsalu and Noah Henderson with the day to day management of the technical equipment, beginning just before the Film Labs Gathering in May. He brought a great energy and dedication to his role—proving to be a colleague we could rely on for managing multiple tasks. Poppi Fella Pellegrino worked as the Education and Outreach Assistant. Poppi worked collaboratively with us to assist with workshops, develop social media assets and manage the August LIFT Open Screening. We wish both of them the best in their future endeavours and hope to see them around LIFT in the future!

“This summer at LIFT brought many adventures and wildly different tasks. It truly felt like a mini-year from Film Labs: Analogue Resilience, to the8fest, to the busy summer that already is hosted at LIFT. I loved returning to familiar faces from such an amazing team, and rejoiced in meeting many new ones! Feeling extremely grateful for the extended opportunity to be part of this team and community hub. Thank you everyone for being so welcoming and inspiring!”
—Esteban Powell

Esteban Powell is a Mexican-Canadian artist and filmmaker exploring both analogue and digital mediums. He is a recent graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Film Studies program, with his directorial thesis film “Vela” in its international festival run. It has been nominated and awarded for various categories, and he is excited for the ongoing festival run and the future of its story. Having an avid passion for writing as well, he published his first book “The Search for The Unicorn” as an ongoing fundraiser for CAMH (The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). He aspires to continue telling genre stories conveying mental health and spirituality, through themes of faith in relationships. Esteban supports and champions like-minded artists who want to express themselves and add to these important conversations, all while enjoying the ever expanding and evolving film mediums. Even having found his element and niche, he always looks for opportunities to try new technologies and techniques to bring dreams to life. His intuition guides him through his creative practice, and welcomes the growing film community found in Toronto. In his time outside of set, he enjoys editing, painting and collaging. https://vimeo.com/chamelens

“I’ve had an amazing time working at LIFT this summer! It has been such a honour to learn from and work alongside such kind, friendly, and talented artists. This summer was the first time I’ve ever worked with analogue film and it has really changed the way I see film and plan to create films in the future. This was an invaluable experience, and I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to work at such an inspiring place with equally inspiring people.”
—Poppi Fella Pellegrino

Poppi Fella Pellegrino is an Oakville and Toronto-based filmmaker interested in telling personal stories about connection and identity through experimental film. She is currently attending the Bachelor of Film and Television program at Sheridan College where she focuses on directing and sound design. At Sheridan, Poppi directed a short documentary about the positive impact of greenspace on mental health for her third-year thesis project. This film, “In the Forest” (co-directed by Harlow Castillo), is being screened at the 2023 Oakville Film Festival and was nominated for a third-year people’s choice award at Sheridan College. Outside of her studies, Poppi plays music with her sister under the name Kings in the Back Row and works as a video editor for the Sheridan Student Union. On and off set, Poppi is passionate about the importance of creating a kind, positive, and welcoming atmosphere for making art.