Creative and Professional Training for Aspiring Female Filmmakers

There is a dearth of women’s voices in independent dramatic filmmaking. The Filmmentor program aims to support and cultivate new visions and cinematic expressions from women with stories to tell. The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) welcomes you to hone your creative and technical skills through the development and production of short fiction films that give light to local social issues and underrepresented voices.

Filmmentor is a five-month, part-time but intensive film production program that will incubate the ideas and technical abilities of 6 – 8 women. The exact schedule is to be determined, however the program will be during LIFT’s business hours (Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm). The tentative start date of the program is July 8, 2014. Working collaboratively, participants will be mentored by film professionals as they develop and complete two short dramatic films by the end of November 2014.

Each participant will have the opportunity to develop their skills, ideas and approach through exercises, workshops and experiments on film and video. Women with diverse interests and skill sets (writing, editing, cinematography, sound, and otherwise focused) are encouraged to apply. A jury composed of a LIFT staff member, a mentor and a board member will select between 6 and 8 participants from the pool of applicants.

The program is composed of a series of hands-on technical and conceptual workshops taught by professionals working in the field that cover key creative and technical aspects of the production process. Participants will also be exposed to local filmmakers and professional development opportunities. Filmmentor will culminate with the opportunity for participants to share their work at a public screening event.

All participants will have access to LIFT equipment, studio space, and post-production facilities. Projects and exercises will be allotted a modest budget that will cover the cost of film, equipment, and post-production rentals. A stipend of $750 per month will be provided to every participant for the duration of the 5-month program. Childcare may be partly subsidized for participants with small children.

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