Call for Proposals: Baghdad/Toronto Film Exchange (BTFX) 2026
THE LIAISON OF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS OF TORONTO (LIFT),
IRAQI INDEPENDENT FILM CENTRE (IIFC) AND YORK UNIVERSITY
ANNOUNCES CALL FOR PROPOSALS:
BAGHDAD/TORONTO FILM EXCHANGE (BTFX) 2026
Toronto, July 22, 2026—In the fall of 2026, the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) will co-present the Baghdad/Toronto Film Exchange (BTFX), in partnership with the Iraq Independent Film Centre (IIFC) and York University’s Department of Film and Media Arts and Sensorium: Centre for Digital Arts and Technology. The IIFC is Baghdad’s legendary film co-op, founded in 2003 in the aftermath of the US invasion by filmmaker Mohamed Al Daradji (“Son of Babylon,” “Irkalla: Gilgamesh’s Dream”) and Atia Jbara Al Daradji. Located on the shores of the Tigris in the historic Sassoon mansion, it is a vital hub for new Iraqi cinema, particularly their distinctive brand of new neo-realism.
LIFT members are invited to apply for one of the BTFX residency positions, which is reserved for a current LIFT member. If selected, you will travel for eight days to Baghdad, participate in various events/workshops at IIFC, and shoot an original short film (possibly in the Mesopotamian marshes), supported by a small crew of IIFC members.
This is a terrible moment of accelerating global violence, with many in the wider region around Iraq experiencing brutal, direct violence. When our skies are full of bombs, it can seem like the wrong time to be initiating such an exchange. However, BTFX, IIFC and LIFT all share a firm belief that cinema can speak back against the global war machine, and offer artists and communities in both cities a space to share our dreams and find common ground. In every detail, BTFX will collaborate closely with all our partners (embassies, funders, hosts) and follow the most rigorous of best practices possible, to ensure the complete safety and security of all participants.
The successful filmmaker/artist will receive:
a. Return flight from Toronto to Baghdad.
b. Per diem (Final amount TBA).
c. Accommodation in Baghdad (tentatively scheduled for November 18 – 25, 2026).
d. Guides/translators/fixers who will be with you and the other BTFX filmmakers at all times, ensuring an absolutely safe and rewarding visit to Iraq.
e. Sufficient equipment and crew for a 1-day shoot in Baghdad.
f. Credit to use post-production facilities at LIFT in Toronto.
g. Weekly online workshops (via Zoom) in advance of your residency with your fellow BTFX filmmakers, brainstorming your respective films, and sharing information about your respective cities and film communities.
h. Participation in one of the Toronto shoots of the IIFC residents (tentatively scheduled for October 31 to November 1, 2026).
i. Additional funding pending the success of a second grant application.
Projects will wrap up in early 2027.
Note: For your application, we of course understand your proposal may well evolve/change/transform, based on the weekly workshops and your dialogue with the other BTFX residents. However, we recommend you still apply with a specific concrete idea—one that effectively conveys your aesthetics, passions and priorities. Your film can be up to 6 minutes, and any genre (documentary, drama, alternative, hybrid, etc.)
Applicants must:
– Be a current member of LIFT (any level)
– Live in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), or within commuting distance from the city, in order to participate in this residency.
– Not mandatory, but fluency in Arabic is a plus.
We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. LIFT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity in all its forms. LIFT highly encourages those from equity-seeking groups to apply. We recommend those interested in applying to read LIFT’s Code of Conduct which can be found online at https://lift.ca under the About Section.
Proposal Requirements:
We’re asking you to propose a possible film that you could shoot during your visit to Baghdad—understanding that of course your film will evolve/change/respond to the Exchange, and the input of the partners/workshops. You are not tied to making the proposal you submit—just the opposite—let’s consider your proposal the start of a conversation.
Please email your application, as a single PDF attachment, to johngreyzone@gmail.com with the following information:
– Contact information: First and Last name, email address, phone number and your LIFT membership expiry date.
– Proposed title, genre, 1-line description, and final length (final projects are recommended to be 6 minutes or less).
– Outline of content (up to 200 words): The specific story/idea you want to explore in your proposed film.
– Formal Treatment (up to 200 words): What will your film look and sound like
– Crewing and Equipment needs for this proposed one-day shoot (up to 200 words):
e.g. do you need a DOP, or are you shooting this film yourself? What sort of camera/gear will you need? IIFC has a full range of camera, sound, lighting and grip gear, and should be able to accommodate most requests.
– Personal Statement (up to 200 words): What this project and BTFX means to you? Include any info that might be relevant to travelling to Iraq (e.g. language, etc.)
– Your creative curriculum vitae (CV): focus on your work/credits as a film/video/media artist.
– Portfolio: up to 3 links (YouTube or Vimeo) for previous films (any topic/any medium) that you have made as a writer/director. For each link, list title, length, year, your creative role(s), and relevance of link to your current application. If appropriate, you may find it useful to draw our attention to a specific section or excerpt via time-stamp, and explain why.
Deadline: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 11:59pm ET
The jury panel will include members of the BTFX from the IIFC, York University and LIFT.
The successful applicant will be contacted by early August.
All questions should be emailed to:
Associate Professor and BTFX Coordinator John Greyson at johngreyzone@gmail.com
Subject Heading: Call for Proposals for Baghdad/Toronto Film Exchange (BTFX) 2026 – First and Last Name
The Baghdad/Toronto Film Exchange (BTFX) 2026 is funded in part by a Connections Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
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Founded in 2010 by Mohamed Al-Daradji and Atia Jbara Al-Daradji, the Iraqi Independent Film Centre (IIFC) is a film organization that aims to raise the level of Iraqi cinematic culture, effectively establishing a post-crisis cinema. Through in-depth workshops, equipment access, screenings and film production, the IIFC trains and supports a new generation of Iraqi filmmakers, making stories that explore realities of Iraqi life today. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064662042988
Discover the art of storytelling through film, screenwriting and media in the Department of Film & Media Arts, part of York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design’s (AMPD). From concept to screen, you’ll develop skills in production, media arts and critical analysis, in top-tier facilities with mentorship from industry experts. With hands-on learning in Toronto, Canada’s cultural capital, our programs prepare you to thrive in today’s dynamic film and media landscape. https://ampd.yorku.ca/department-of-film-and-media-arts
Based in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) at York University, Sensorium is a research centre for creative inquiry and experimentation at the intersection of the media arts, performance, and digital culture. As a site for co-creation and shared critical reflection, Sensorium serves as a catalyst for examining how diverse media platforms enable multi-sensory perception and embodied experience, along with new modes of social engagement. Bridging disciplines and diverse communities, Sensorium researchers, artists, and scientists explore networked connections between people, sentient environments, and ecologies of place. https://ampd.yorku.ca/sensorium
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
Wednesday 22 July 2026 – Tuesday 4 August 2026
Non-members: Must be a LIFT Member to apply
Members: Must be a LIFT Member to apply
Location:
Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) / Iraq Independent Film Centre (IIFC)
Toronto / Baghdad