Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship

The Jeffrey and Sandra Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship

– 2026 Call for Applications –

Submission Deadline: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2026 (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 2026 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;

● and 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. Applications were previously accepted from MA, PhD, and post-doc students exclusively. In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of film and media research, and the diversity of methodological approaches within the field, we have expanded the eligibility requirements to include 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 2027 and July 2027. Digital research may be possible, depending on the Special Collection and the research material requested. The successful applicant will be provided with a stipend of $1,000 CAD, a designated office space, and access to the FRL’s collections in support of their research. Special Collections of particular interest may include the archives of experimental filmmaker Mike Hoolboom; the Conquering Lion Pictures Archive of materials related to the works of filmmakers Clement Virgo and Damon D’Oliveira; the Delphine White Collection; the Prospector Films Collection; the Divani Films collection; the Patricia Rozema Collection; the Bruce McDonald Collection; and the Ingrid Veninger Collection.

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

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be considered for the Scholarship: 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. It must be clearly demonstrated through the application that the applicant’s project would benefit from access to the FRL collections.

3. Legal eligibility to work in Canada as part of studies.

As part of TIFF’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the Canadian film and media industries, we encourage and prioritize applications from equity deserving groups. We encourage you to self-identify in your application.

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. It will be completed in Toronto at TIFF Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King Street West.

*Research-Creation is an approach to research that combines creative and academic research practices, and supports the development of knowledge and innovation through artistic expression, scholarly investigation, and experimentation (from The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)

2. The Scholarship must be acknowledged in the appropriate section of the recipient’s thesis or dissertation, during any presentations at conferences or academic institutions, and in any publications resulting from research completed at the FRL. Copies of these publications must be forwarded to the FRL to be catalogued in its holdings.

3. The Scholarship stipend of $1,000 CAD is intended to provide partial support for the costs related to 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

The following criteria will be used to determine the successful candidate:

1. The relevance of the project as it relates to the current field of 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

To be considered for the Jeffrey and Sandra Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship, applicants should supply the following: 1. A statement of interest of no more than 500 words describing your project and how you believe the FRL holdings and resources will benefit you.

2. A curriculum vitae.

3. Two letters of recommendation sent directly to TIFF 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.

4. A timeline of the research project and a list of the topics you are researching.

5. 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: Please submit all application components as a single PDF or Word document (we do not accept Cloud hosting or file-sharing programs) by 5pm on November 13, 2026. All applications must be submitted online through the posting found on our website at tiff.net/careers.

References: Please submit your letters of recommendation as a PDF or Word document (we do not accept Cloud hosting or file-sharing programs) by 5pm on November 13, 2026 to the attention of “Scholarship Committee: 2026 Jeffrey and Sandra Lyons Canadian Film Scholarship” Email [email protected], and please 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 the preservation of Canada’s cinematic history, maintaining extensive archival and research collections with a focus 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.