Robin Riad is an Egyptian-Canadian experimental filmmaker. Robin works primarily with analogue mediums, and likes to find new ways to mess with film. She devotes her time to the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC), the8fest, and teaching many workshops throughout the year. As one LIFT’s technicians, she supports many artists and independent filmmakers with their arts practice, and enjoys hearing about all their fun, exciting projects. When not at LIFT, Robin can be found making potions in the darkroom. 

ROBIN RIAD

robinriad@outlook.com


Technical Experience 

May 2022 - Present  Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) - Technical Administrator

October 2021-May 2022 Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) - Technical Coordinator 

August 2020-January 2023 Niagara Custom Lab - Technician  

Teaching Experience 

June 2024 Xpace - Animating Analogue - Upcoming

December 2023 LIFT - New Take: Program for Emerging Artists - Analogue Animation Intensive: Direct Animation, Stop Motion with film, Analogue Animation Stands - Upcoming

December 2023 LIFT - New Take: Program for Emerging Artists -  Experimental Super 8 Filmmaking - Upcoming

November 2023 LIFT - Arri SRII 16mm and Aaton XTR Prod Super 16mm Cameras: In Person - Upcoming

August 2023  LIFT - Workshop Instructor - Super8 Filmmaking Intensive 

June - August 2023 Direct Animation, Film Manipulation, and Optical Printing Mentor Position funded through the Canada Council for the Arts

July - August 2023 Workman Arts - Lead Facilitator - If You Ask Me Youth (IYAM) Filmmaking Program 

July 2023 LIFT - Workshop Instructor - Arri SRII 16mm and Aaton XTR Prod Super 16mm Cameras: In Person 

March 2023 LIFT - Workshop Instructor - Arri SRII 16mm and Aaton XTR Prod Super 16mm Cameras: In Person 

January 2023 - April 2023  OCAD University - Teaching Assistant (Tutorial Leader) for Animated Storytelling.  

January 2023 - April 2023  OCAD University - Teaching Assistant (Tutorial Leader) for Introduction to Experimental Animation.  

November 2022 LIFT - Workshop Instructor - Arri SRII 16mm and Aaton XTR Prod Super 16mm Cameras: In Person 

October 2022 LIFT/Toronto Metropolitan University  (TMU) - Workshop Instructor - Telecine for Found Footage/Archival Films

September 2022 LIFT/ReelAbilities - Workshop Facilitator - Getting Started - Low/No-Cost Introductions to Filmmaking

September 2022 - December 2022  OCAD University - Teaching Assistant (Tutorial Leader) for Introduction to Experimental Animation. 

July 2022  Big on Bloor - Workshop Facilitator - 16mm Pop-Up, Scratch on Film, Animation, Collage 

September 2021 - December 2021  OCAD University - Teaching Assistant (Tutorial Leader) for Advanced Animation Studio 2.

January 2021 - April 2021  OCAD University - Teaching Assistant (Tutorial Leader) for Advanced Animation Studio 1 . 

January 2018 - Present Freelance Instructor - Freelance one-on-one sessions with filmmakers on analogue film. 


Professional Experience

October 2023 the8fest, Toronto - the8fest x Ace Hotel - The Projector is Haunted co-curated with Aaron Rachel Brown 

October 2023  LIFT - Production and Post Production Support Program - Jury with Daniel McIntyre and Joanna Decc

August 2023 the8fest, Toronto - the8fest x Ace Hotel - Past/Present, Then/Now co-curated with Aaron Rachel Brown 

July 2023 the8fest, Toronto - Deviations: A Retrospective of Small Gauge Films by Wrik Mead - moderator of Artist Talk with Wrik Mead, and co-curated with Cayley James 

July 2023 th8fest, Toronto - Places, Observations and Vignettes (POVs): Judy Blankenship, John Coburn and Barbara Sternberg co-curated with Rennie Taylor 2023 

June 2023 OCAD University - Panelist - Making a Living in the Arts 

April 2023 TIFF - Guest - Young Creators Co-Lab 

December 2022 The Toronto Film and Media Seminar - Panelist on behalf of the8fest - Niche Film Festivals 

May 2023  the8Fest - Programmer/Curator

April 2022 TIFF - Guest - Young Creators Co-Lab: Launch Pad: Industry Networking Session


Volunteer Experience 

August 2022 - Present the8fest - Chair of the Board of Directors 

May 2023 - Present Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Center (CFMDC) -  Secretary of the Board of Directors 

May 2022 - May 2023 Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Center (CFMDC) - Member of the Board of Directors.

June 2022 - June 2023 Toronto Arab Film - Member of the Board of Directors 

March 2022 - August 2022 the8fest - Member of the Board of Directors. 

Education

Toronto Queer Film Festival
Participant of Queer Animations Workshop, led by Leslie Supnet and Glenn Gear, facilitated by Cecilio Escobar. 
2022

OCAD University
Integrated Media: Digital Painting and Expanded Animation
2016-2020 

Screenings

Six Months

2023 Rendezvous with Madness, screening of Six Months, Toronto 

Fragmentasia 

2023 WNDX Festival of the Moving Image, screening of Fragramentasia, Winnipeg

2023 Queer City Cinema, screening of Fragmentasia, Regina 

2023 Femme Fatale Film Festival, screening of Fragmentasia, Toronto

2023 attaque(e)r le visible - VIDEOAKTION #4,  screening of Fragmentasia, Berlin

2023 Winnipeg Underground Film Festival (WUFF), screening of Fragmentasia, Winnipeg

2023 Toronto Queer Film Festival, screening of Fragmentasia, Toronto

The Double 

2020 Gradex 105, OCADU, screening of The Double, Toronto

2019​ The Handlebar, screening of The Double​, Toronto

Grants

2023 - Canada Council for the Arts Explore and Create: Professional Development for Artists 

2023 - Ontario Arts Council Media Artists Creation Grant Recipient for the creation of In Time

2022 - Commissioned by Toronto Queer Film Festival for the creation of Fragmentasia 

2019 - Recipient of the “OCAD Micro-Grant”, OCAD University Student Union

2019 - Recipient of the OCAD U (TSA Summer) Bursary for Full-time Students

Using Format