Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the 2025 Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival!
The festival platformed hundreds of films, each project worthy of recognition and celebration. We want to extend a giant thank you to everyone who took part and a special congratulations to all the incredible talent that went into making these projects.
The judges' scores have been combined with the audience's choices, and after careful scrutiny, it's our pleasure to announce the Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival winners!
Winners: Toronto Network Round Shorts
The Flower Bike Man
Director: Courtney Kerr
Producer: Allie Ford
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Short Narrative
Synopsis: A Florida transplant transforms ordinary bicycles into colorful works of art that don the city of Amsterdam. Originally inspired to make his wife’s bicycle stand out amongst the others, after epilepsy induced seizures affected her memory, a loving gesture has turned into so much more. His bicycles not only provide for an interesting photographic subject, but serve as a vehicle for social impact, spreading love as a cure for even the darkest of days.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best Short Documentary
Hogar
Director: Catalina
Country of Origin: Canada
Genre: Animation
Synopsis: A reflection on how we define space and the feeling we call home through different perspectives and memories.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best Animation, Best Post-Production
In The Red
Director/Writer: Tae Sax
Producer: Keegan Richards
Country of Origin: Canada
Genre: Short, Drama
Synopsis: In a dystopian office, two coworkers go head-to-head for the promotion of their lives.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best First-Time Filmmaker
The Dinner Party
Director/Writer/Producer: Jaye Lodhia
Director/Producer: Steven Chau
Country of Origin: Canada
Genre: Short
Synopsis: A young woman nervously prepares to host a dinner party. Too busy being focused on perfection, she isn't prepared for what happens when her guests arrive.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction
Not in the mood
Director/Writer/Producer: Sergii Bublyk
Country of Origin: Ukraine
Genre: Music Video
Synopsis: The animated clip "Not in the Mood" is created for Pur:Pur music band. It's a lyrical story about relationships, depicting stages from infatuation and love to irritation and indifference. The clip illustrates how small and seemingly insignificant things can ruin relationships in the long run.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best Music Video
The Mother is Dead
Director/Producer: Justin Calandriello
Writer: Sam Lemieux
Country of Origin: Mexico
Genre: Short Narrative
Synopsis: After the passing of their mother, a brother and sister are forced to reminisce on their complicated relationships with her and one another.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best Director, Best Acting Ensemble
Night Waves
Director/Writer: River Evans
Producer:Lyneil Gray
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Genre: Short Narrative, Drama
Synopsis: Regina, the host of the graveyard shift on 93FM, is surprised when a listener calls in to her usually quiet show. This gravely injured man is about to give Regina his final confession.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best Short Narrative, Best Actor (Scott Wills)
Winners: Toronto Network Round Features
The Monarch Ultra
Director: Rodney Fuentes
Country of Origin: Canada
Genre: Feature Documentary
Synopsis: Deeply concerned about the steep decline of insect pollinators due to devastating environmental impacts, a group of runners trace the migration path of the monarch butterflies across three countries as they organized a 4,300 kilometre relay run, aiming to raise awareness for pollinator conservation.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best Feature Documentary
Lena and Vladimir
Director: Igor Aleksov
Writer:Aleksandar Rusjakov
Producers: Ilija Ciriviri, Dejan Iliev
Country of Origin: North Macedonia
Genre: Feature Narrative
Synopsis: When a mysterious man with a tragic secret shelters a young runaway girl with an abusive past, their unlikely bond challenges them to overcome their haunting past and to find hope in an unexpected place.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best Feature Narrative
16th Annual Lift-Off Season Awards
The Lift-Off Season Awards is an annual event that celebrates the very best of indie film. Following each Lift-Off film festival, films that have excelled in their respective category are short listed for a Season Awards Nomination. At the end of the year, once all the 12 city-based festival have taken place, the shortlisted nominated films are reviewed again by the jury and Official Nominations are designated. Click here for more information about the Lift-Off Season Awards.