LIFT Seasonal Screening Series: Documentary
The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is pleased to present
the 2019 Seasonal Screening Series: Documentary
Toronto, April 4, 2019—Member screenings have been an essential part of the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto’s nearly forty-year history. From screenings at the defunct experimental cinema The Funnel in the 1980s to Trash Palace and the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Jackman Hall even board meetings—exhibition has been just as important as production for LIFT and our membership.
In 2018, we supported over 1,000 projects. Everything from student films to features, installations and festivals. But it is rare for us to be able to share what our members are creating. Last year was LIFT’s last Round Up at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. In its place, we wanted to create an event for practicing artists and curious audiences to come together and celebrate the diversity of visions that make up our membership.
On April 24 LIFT’s new Seasonal Screening Series is set to launch with a spotlight on documentaries at Niagara Custom Labs. Later this year there will be events dedicated to experimental and narrative works as well as music videos. At each of these screenings of member works there will be a special archive film alongside the recently completed projects and works in progress.
Program:
Curated by Cayley James, Justine McCloskey and Sally Walker-Hudecki.
Nadia’s Songs, Dir. Nick White, 2019
When a teenage boy finds a collection of CDs that used to belong to a stranger known only as Nadia, he tries to use the music found in them to imagine her life story and reflect on his own.
Elspeth Wood: Lunar Printing and Other Experiments, Dir. Sandy McLennan, 2018
Elspeth Wood is a photographic and visual artist without a camera. She experiments with printing anywhere, with anything, any time of day or night.
Eulogy for the Dead Sea, Dir. Polina Teif, excerpt
Eulogy for the Dead Sea is a feature length documentary chronicling the rapid shrinking of the Dead Sea which is estimated to disappear by 2050. This unique biosphere bordering Jordan, Palestine’s West Bank, and Israel has fallen victim to regional conflict and only be saved through international cooperation.
Supermarket Garden, Dir. Muriel Jacque, 2019
As initially conceived, The Supermarket Garden was an examination of personal environments created by immigrants through foreign fruit and seeds obtained from grocery stores; a space to learn about flora and its imperial history whilst reconciling memories of the homeland. However, the project became an essay film of the exploration of identity and failure, the confusion and feelings of exile in the Chilean diaspora, and the inability to rebuild roots using Chilean seeds.
Tibetan Honeymoon, Dir. Kristi Tethong, 2019
The Haircut, Dir. Maya Annik Bedward, 2018
Marvin Bedward is a 65-year old business executive who refuses to get a haircut. Traumatized by the white barbers who ruined his Afro as a child, Marvin sees his long hair as an act of resistance to authority, mainstream culture and his wife. A funny and refreshing take on the classic immigrant story, The Haircut is an exploration of assimilation and resistance through the portrait of one man’s refusal to cut his hair.
Shutter, Dir. Alexi Manis, 2009 (Archive Film)
Shutter tracks the rising sun, the lengthening shadows and the darkening day of a solar eclipse. Using live footage of the 1981 total solar eclipse documented on film by amateur astronomer Andreas Gada, Shutter presents a visual metaphor for the shifting and magic light that occurs on the rare days of this celestial phenomenon. An original sound collage reflects the haunting power of the natural world. A 16mm experimental film by Alexi Manis, funded by LIFT and the Ontario Arts Council. 2010/11 festival screenings include Chicago, London, New York and Rotterdam. Dedicated to Sally Ann Mott.
LIFT SEASONAL SCREENING SERIES: Documentary
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Doors at 7:00pm; Screening at 7:30pm
Niagara Custom Lab
182A St. Helens Avenue
(SW of Bloor Street West and Lansdowne Avenue)
Admission:
FREE for LIFT Members, $10.00 for non-members
CASH ONLY
Many thanks to TD Canada Trust (Galleria Shopping Centre), Henderson Brewing Company and Niagara Custom Lab for making this event possible.
About TD Canada Trust
TD Canada Trust is the personal, small business and commercial banking operation of the Toronto-Dominion Bank in Canada. TD Canada Trust offers a range of financial services and products to more than 10 million Canadian customers through more than 1,100 branches and 2,600 “Green Machine” ATMs. https://td.com
About Henderson Brewing Company
Henderson Brewing Company is award winning, full-scale brewery in the Junction Triangle with a tap-room and bottle shop. They strive to create balanced and thoughtful beers that honour traditional ways, but are not restricted to them. They want our beers to spark ideas, tell stories and, most of all, be refreshing and enjoyable. https://hendersonbrewing.com
About Niagara Custom Lab
Niagara Custom Lab is a full-service motion picture film laboratory, one of the last of a rare breed that focuses on providing the most complete and diverse post-production services available for celluloid. Our goal is to provide these very important services to those in need, supporting anyone interested in shooting or working with motion picture film by preserving and maintaining it as an active artistic medium. https://niagaracustomlab.com
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
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Contact:
For additional information please see http://lift.ca or e-mail Development Coordinator Cayley James at development@lift.on.ca with subject heading: LIFT Seasonal Screening Series: Documentary
Wednesday 24 April 2019 –
Non-members: FREE for LIFT members
Members: $10.00 for Non-members
Location:
Niagara Custom Lab
182A St. Helens Avenue
Toronto ON Canada