Commissioning Projects
LIFT provides support to media artists through occasional commissioning projects. These range from omnibus projects with modest budgets to the creation of significant new works. Some LIFT commissions are curated and others are selected through open calls for submissions. Check back regularly for current calls for submissions.
![]() |
LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2018 Mentorship AnnouncementFriday 16 February 2018 –2018 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Natasha Naveau TORONTO, February 16, 2018—The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that Toronto-based artist Natasha Naveau is the recipient of the 14th annual LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship. Natasha was raised in Mat”… more |
![]() |
Call for Applicants: LIFT and imagineNATIVE 14th annual Mentorship ProgramWednesday 15 November 2017 –LIFT and imagineNATIVE 14th ANNUAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: CALL FOR APPLICANTS Application Deadline: Friday, December 15, 2017 by 12:00pm Toronto, November 15, 2017— Are you an Indigenous artist or emerging filmmaker living in or near the GTA? Do you have a great idea for a 5-minute short film? Celebrating 14 years of supporting independent Indigenous”… more |
![]() |
LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2017 Mentorship AnnouncementWednesday 29 March 2017 –2017 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Samay Arcentales Cajas Toronto, March 29, 2017—imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that Toronto-based Kichwa (Ecuador) artist Samay Arcentales Cajas is the recipient of the 13th annual LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship.”… more |
![]() |
Call for Applicants: LIFT and imagineNATIVE 13th annual Mentorship Program – EXTENDEDThursday 2 February 2017 –LIFT and imagineNATIVE 13th annual Mentorship Program: Call for Applicants Toronto, February 2, 2017—Do you have a great idea for a 5-minute short film? Celebrating 13 years of supporting independent Indigenous film, the LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship program welcomes you to explore 16mm filmmaking through”… more |
![]() |
LIFT Artist Commission: The Madvo CollectionWednesday 7 September 2016 –CALL FOR PROPOSALS: LIFT ARTIST COMMISSION PROJECT THE MADVO COLLECTION September 7, 2016—In 2014 a 200-reel collection of the films and outtakes of local documentary filmmaker Jacques Madvo was donated to the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT). Madvo travelled the world from the 1960s to the 1980s, shooting 16mm footage that made”… more |
![]() |
LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2016 Mentorship AnnouncementWednesday 30 March 2016 –2016 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Jamie Whitecrow Toronto, April 13, 2016—imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that Toronto-based Anishinaabe artist Jamie Whitecrow is the recipient of the 12th annual LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship. This annual mentor”… more |
![]() |
Call for Applicants: LIFT and imagineNATIVE 12th annual Mentorship Program – ExtendedThursday 28 January 2016 –Call for Applicants: Call for Applicants:LIFT and imagineNATIVE 12th annual Mentorship Program Toronto, January 28, 2016—Do you have a great idea for a 5-minute short film? Celebrating 12 years of supporting independent Indigenous film, the LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorshi”… more |
![]() |
LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2015 Mentorship AnnouncementThursday 16 April 2015 –2015 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Jaene Castrillon 2015 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Jaene Castrillon Toronto, April 16, 2015—imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that Toronto-based Indigenous Colombian artist Jaene”… more |
![]() |
Call for Applicants: LIFT and imagineNATIVE 11th annual Mentorship Program – Extended DeadlineThursday 26 February 2015 –February 26, 2015 Call for Applicants:LIFT and imagineNATIVE 11th annual Mentorship Program February 26, 2015 Call for Applicants:LIFT and imagineNATIVE 11th annual Mentorship Program”… more |
![]() |
LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2014 Mentorship AnnouncementWednesday 16 April 2014 –2014 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Hannah Schreck 2014 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Hannah Schreck Toronto, April 16, 2014—imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that Toronto-based Dene artist Hannah Schreck is the rec”… more |
![]() |
EXTENDED – Call for Applicants: LIFT and imagineNATIVE 10th annual Mentorship ProgramFriday 7 March 2014 –February 6, 2014 February 6, 2014 Do you have a great idea for a 5 minute short film? Celebrating 10 years of supporting independent Indigenous film, the LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship program w”… more |
![]() |
LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2013 Mentorship AnnouncementFriday 1 March 2013 –2013 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Adrienne Marcus Raja 2013 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Adrienne Marcus Raja Toronto, March 1, 2013—imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that Toronto-based Kelabit artist Adrienne Ma”… more |
![]() |
Call for Applicants: LIFT and imagineNATIVE 9th annual Mentorship ProgramFriday 15 February 2013 –Do you have a great idea for a 5 minute short film? Explore 16mm filmmaking through LIFT’s workshops, equipment and facilities (other mediums may be employed). Shoot and edit your ideas on film, and see them on scre”… more |
![]() |
LIFT and imagineNATIVE 2012 Mentorship AnnouncementThursday 9 February 2012 –2012 LIFT and imagineNATIVE Mentorship Winner Tyler Hagan Toronto, February 9, 2012— imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that Vancouver raised, Toronto based Métis artist Tyler Hagan is the recipient of the 8th annual LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship. This annual”… more |
![]() |
Call For Applicants: LIFT and imagineNATIVE 8th annual Mentorship ProgramWednesday 25 January 2012 –Do you have a great idea for a 5 minute short film? Explore 16mm filmmaking through LIFT’s workshops, equipment and facilities (other mediums may be employed). Shoot and edit your ideas to film, and see them on screen at the 13th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, which will take p”… more |
![]() |
Lost Secrets of the Royal at the Blackwood Gallery and A Space GalleryWednesday 9 November 2011 –(Cindy Mochizuki’s YOKAI & OTHER SPIRITS – photo by Dalia Vukmirovic) Project stills at the end of this entry. LOST SECRETS OF THE ROYAL Four newly commissioned works presented by Liaison of Independent Filmmakers Toronto (LIFT), Reel Asian, the Blackwood Gallery, and A Space Gallery Curators: Ben Donoghue and Hea”… more |
Lost Secrets of the Royal – In Production for November 2011Friday 1 April 2011 –Beginning in 2007 LIFT and the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival began discussions towards realizing a commissioning project producing new work from LIFT’s large collection of 35mm Hong Kong films from the 1970s and 80s. In 2009 festival Artistic Director Heather Keung and LIFT Executive Director Ben Donoghue developed a commissioning”… more |
![]() |
Cinema and Disjunction at Cinematheque OntarioMonday 27 October 2008 –The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is pleased to present Adrian Blackwell’s “Night Equals Day” and Daniel Young and Christian Giroux’s “Every Building, Or Site, That a Building Permit Has Been Issued for a New Building in Toronto in 2006.” These two new 35mm architectural films form the initial parts of LIFT’s “Cinema and Disju”… more |
![]() |
imagineNATIVE and LIFT announce 2011 Mentee, Susan BlightSaturday 1 January 2011 –imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that interdisciplinary artist Susan Blight, from the Couchiching First Nation, has been selected for the 7th annual LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship. This annual mentorship was developed to offer an Indigenous artist t”… more |
![]() |
Michael Greyeyes – 2010 – LIFT/ImagineNATIVE MentorshipFriday 1 January 2010 –Artist: Michael Greyeyes (Toronto) Artist: Michael Greyeyes (Toronto) imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival and Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) are pleased to announce that established dancer, choreographer and actor, Michael Greyeyes has been selected for the 6th annual LIFT/imagineNATIVE Mentorship. This annua”… more |