A curated cinematic evening on how AI is reshaping film.

June 5 · Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema · Toronto

Cinema Shift Festival Toronto

Submission deadline: April 15. Notification date: May 15

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Cinema Shift Festival focuses on narrative films that use AI as a creative tool, guided by human authorship and cultural intent.

We curate films where AI serves a story or idea rooted in film culture, not technical demonstration.
about
Best AI Narrative Film
Narrative films that use AI as a creative tool, while storytelling and authorship remain human-led.
Best Hybrid Film
(AI + Traditional Production)
Narrative films primarily made through traditional production methods, with AI used selectively to enhance specific elements.
Best Canadian AI Narrative Film
A jury-selected award recognizing a Canadian film that meets the Best AI Narrative Film criteria and is led and produced in Canada.

CONVERSATIONS

Ann Marie Fleming
Ann Marie Fleming

Ann Marie Fleming is an award-winning Canadian writer, director, and visual artist working across film, animation, and media. Born in Japan and of Australian and Chinese heritage, her work explores themes of family, history, and memory. Her latest feature Can I Get a Witness? premiered at TIFF 2024, was named to the TIFF Top 10, and received multiple awards including from the Vancouver Film Critics Circle and the Leo Awards. Fleming has premiered 18 films at TIFF, with several Top 10 selections, including the acclaimed animated feature Window Horses, which won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Animated Feature. 

Ryan Stasyshyn
Rodeo FX
Ryan Stasyshyn

Bringing a wealth of experience, leadership, and a commitment to fostering artistic excellence, Ryan has been part of the production teams for some of the industry's most recent and iconic projects, including WandaVision, HBO’s Watchmen, John Wick: Chapter 4, The Handmaid's Tale, 1923, and Priscilla. As Head of the Toronto Rodeo FX studio, he supervised many of its latest creations, including Mark Wahlberg's The Family Plan 2, Bob Odenkirk’s Normal and the upcoming Hershey movie.Throughout his career, Ryan gained invaluable on-set experience serving as the Head of Production, Head of Operations, and Managing Director. His tenures at various high-profile studios gave him a deep understanding of virtual production, an affinity for leadership roles that challenge the status quo and a contagious enthusiasm.

Zach Nickels
Dipchand LLP
Zach Nickels

As an intellectual property lawyer at Dipchand LLP, Zach Nickels helps innovators and creators protect what sets their businesses apart through strategic advice, enforcement, and litigation when necessary. Drawing on both his technical background and legal expertise, Zach understands his clients’ businesses and objectives, and delivers advice that is practical, tailored, and personal. He has extensive litigation experience before the Ontario Superior Court, the Federal Court, and the Federal Court of Appeal, and is known for empowering his clients while advocating for them with tenacity.

Curatorial Jury

Fabio Montanari
Fabio Montanari

Fabio Montanari is a filmmaker and scholar who has written series for major networks, including HBO and Netflix, and is the creator of an original international TV series for Amazon Prime Video. He holds an MFA in Film from Columbia University and is an Assistant Professor at York University.

Ann Marie Fleming
Ann Marie Fleming

Ann Marie Fleming is an award-winning Canadian writer, director, producer, and visual artist whose work spans animation, documentary, and narrative film. Her films have premiered 18 times at the Toronto International Film Festival, with several selections on the TIFF Top 10 list, and her acclaimed animated feature Window Horses received international recognition, including the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Animated Feature.

Samantha Wan
Samantha Wan

Samantha Wan is a Canadian director, writer, and producer who co-created, directed, and starred in the Citytv comedy series Second Jen, nominated for the WGC Newcomer Award and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Comedy Series. She has directed projects including the BAFTA Award-winning series The Next Step and CBC’s Gangnam Project, for which she received a DGC nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement.

Boris Licina
Boris Licina

Boris Licina is a screenwriter and curator focused on narrative authorship and AI-assisted storytelling. He holds a BFA in Screenwriting from York University and works across film and emerging media with an emphasis on story-driven, human-led cinema.

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