Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship

TIFF; Toronto; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent film institution in Toronto is offering the Jeffrey and Sandra Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship for applicants pursuing research in Canadian film and media. The scholarship includes a stipend of $1,000 CAD and access to extensive resources of the Film Reference Library for one month between January and July 2025. This is an opportunity for full-time students to deepen their academic inquiry with a focus on Canadian cinema. Applications are due by November 16, 2025.

Qualifications

• A project proposal that activates the archive and deepens knowledge about Canadian film and media.
• Legal eligibility to work in Canada as part of studies.

Education

Enrolment in a full-time master’s, PhD, or post-doctoral programme

Job description

The Jeffrey and Sandra Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship – 2025 Call for Applications

Submission Deadline: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2025 (5pm)

For over four decades, TIFF has been committed to transforming the way people see the world through film. Central to this commitment is our pledge to preserve and promote Canada’s moving‑image culture through educational initiatives and learning opportunities. TIFF is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Jeffrey and Sandra Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship, supporting the development of scholarship or research‑creation that activates the archive. The award aims to:

• Increase access to the reference and archival collections of the Film Reference Library (FRL);
• Support research and research‑creation that deepens knowledge about Canadian film and media;
• Strengthen the relationship between cultural and academic institutions in pursuit of knowledge mobilization.

TIFF encourages proposals from scholars, researcher‑creators, and artists whose project would benefit from the unique collections of the FRL. Prior eligibility was limited to MA, PhD, and post‑doc students exclusively. In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of film and media research, eligibility now includes those enrolled in any master’s program who are pursuing related research.

This Scholarship provides the recipient access to the extensive resources and collections of the FRL for one month between January 2025 and July 2025. Digital research may be possible, depending on the Special Collection and the requested material. The successful applicant will receive a stipend of $1,000 CAD, a designated office space, and access to the FRL’s collections to support their research. Special Collections of particular interest include the archives of experimental filmmaker Mike Hoolboom; the Conquering Lion Pictures Archive of materials related to Clement Virgo and Damon D’Oliveira; the Deepa Mehta Archive; the Prospector Films Collection; the Divani Films collection; the Patricia Rozema Collection; the Bruce McDonald Collection; the Helen Arthurs collection; and the archives of composer Christopher Dedrick.

To learn more about the FRL and to browse the collections, please visit the Library’s website: tiff.net/library.

Eligibility

1. Enrolment in a full‑time master’s, PhD, or post‑doctoral programme at an accredited post‑secondary institution.
2. A proposal for research or a creative project that activates the archive and deepens knowledge about Canadian film and media, clearly demonstrating how access to the FRL collections would benefit the project.
3. Legal eligibility to work in Canada as part of studies.

As part of TIFF’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, we encourage and prioritize applications from equity‑deserving groups. Self‑identification is encouraged.

Terms

1. The Scholarship will provide the recipient with the equivalent of four weeks of full‑time access to requested FRL materials. Research must be completed within eight months of the awarding of the Scholarship. Work will be conducted at TIFF Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King Street West.

*Research‑Creation is an approach that combines creative and academic research practices, fostering knowledge creation through artistic expression, scholarly investigation, and experimentation (The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council).

2. The Scholarship must be acknowledged in the appropriate section of the recipient’s thesis or dissertation, any conference presentations, and in any publications resulting from research completed at the FRL. Copies of these publications must be forwarded to the FRL for cataloguing.

3. The stipend of $1,000 CAD is intended to partially support travel and living expenses for the duration of the Scholarship.

4. The successful applicant will be required to complete a short survey about their experience upon conclusion of the Scholarship.

Selection Criteria

1. The relevance of the project to current fields such as cinema and media studies, cultural studies, archival studies, or other areas of specialization.
2. The originality and sophistication of the methodological approach.
3. The feasibility of the research objectives.
4. The applicant’s need for access to the FRL’s collection.

Application Components

• A statement of interest (no more than 500 words) describing your project and how FRL holdings and resources will benefit you.
• A curriculum vitae.
• Two letters of recommendation sent directly to the Library from two references. Appropriate references include past or current employers, or faculty members who can speak to your scholarly work. References must state how long they have known the applicant and in what capacity.
• A timeline of the research project and a list of the topics you are researching.
• Optional: A writing sample or portfolio work that demonstrates an ability to communicate research. Please provide a Vimeo or Google Drive link to any moving‑image clips (no more than 10 minutes long in total).

How to Submit and Application Deadline

Applicants should submit all application components as a single PDF or Word document (cloud hosting or file‑sharing programs are not accepted) by 5pm on November 16, 2025. Applications must be submitted online through the posting at tiff.net/careers.

References

Submit your letters of recommendation as a PDF or Word document by 5pm on November 16, 2025 to the attention of “Scholarship Committee: 2025 Jeffrey and Sandra Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship.” Email [e-mail]. Indicate the name of the applicant in the subject line.

All applications are considered confidential. TIFF is an equal‑opportunity employer and is committed to providing accommodations in our hiring process for people with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, please inform us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

About the FRL

The FRL is the ultimate free resource for filmmakers, students, researchers, screenwriters, and film and television professionals. A proud affiliate member of the International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), the FRL is dedicated to preserving Canada’s cinematic history, maintaining extensive archival and research collections focused on Canadian cinema. The collection is a library and archive that includes a comprehensive reference collection on all aspects of filmmaking and cinema studies (books, periodicals, research files, audio‑visual materials, photographs) and Special Collections representing over 100 industry figures in Canadian cinema. Visit tiff.net/library to learn more about our collections, access the online catalogue, and browse Special Collections.

The Jeffrey and Sandra Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship is generously supported by the Jeffrey & Sandra Lyons Endowment Fund at TIFF.