CLIFF
CLIFF
Indo-Canada Arts Council Presents
Celebrating the classics that shaped Indian cinema.
CLIFF is where literature's second life is celebrated :: every film on screen carries a story that once lived somewhere else first.
Presented Alongside ADAPTIVE · Canada Literature Festival
4 – 11 October 2026
Celebrating the classics that shaped Indian cinema :: Lagaan, Sholay and more, brought back to the big screen in Toronto this October.
Where to Start
The Idea
Cinema as literature's continuation :: the idea, the mission, and the people behind it.
Learn more →
Proof of Concept
Umrao Jaan and Lagaan, celebrated at the Aga Khan Museum this past May.
See the preview →
Get Involved
For brands, filmmakers, distributors and cultural partners ready to be part of CLIFF 2026.
Start a conversation →
“Film and literature are bound by the same heartbeat :: storytelling. CLIFF exists to give that heartbeat a stage of its own.”Ajaay Modi · Founder & Director, Indo-Canada Arts Council
Celebrating Adapted Films
Classic Legends Indian Film Festival
The Idea. Every film screened at CLIFF carries a story that once lived somewhere else :: a novel, a memoir, a biopic, or an oral tradition. CLF brings the storytellers who have created the most classic and legendary films over the decades. CLIFF brings their stories live on screen, in cinematic form. Together, they close a loop no other festival can: hear an author speak, then watch the adaptation on the same calendar.
Mission. To celebrate cinema as literature's continuation, not a separate art form, and to build the Indian film festival platform where the classics and legends once again take the centre stage, and where the "adaptation" is heard with the author's vision.
Founder Profile
Indo-Canada Arts Council · CLIFF · CLF
For more than three decades, Ajaay Modi has been at the forefront of building meaningful cultural bridges between Canada and India through cinema, television and the performing arts, long before film festivals became commonplace.
As Founder of AME Telefilms Ltd, Ajaay has brought 150+ films to Canada, produced and directed more than 250 television episodes for Sony TV Canada and Zee TV Canada. His work spans the complete production lifecycle, from concept development and directing to cinematography, editing, post-production and broadcast delivery.
Beyond production, Ajaay has spent years creating platforms that connect filmmakers, artists and audiences, through community festivals, film premieres, musical concerts, gala dinners, celebrity interactions and talk shows. He has built enduring relationships with the Indian film fraternity, becoming a trusted Canadian partner for filmmakers, producers, distributors and studios engaging audiences across North America.
Today, as Founder & Director of the Indo-Canada Arts Council and the visionary behind CLIFF, Ajaay continues to champion cinema not simply as entertainment, but as a powerful medium for preserving heritage, celebrating storytelling and fostering cultural dialogue.
Did You Know?
Incubated alongside the Canada Literature Festival since 2022. CLIFF treats cinema as literature's continuation, not a separate art form.
Founding milestone: CLIFF has been showcasing individual films since 2017, in partnership with AME Telefilms.
The history: 2025 saw a partnership with the Indo-Canada Arts Council, and now with the Canada Literature Foundation, to showcase "adapted" films :: once on page, once on screen.
May 2026 milestone: CLIFF Preview screenings held at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto.
Milestone celebrations: screened "Umrao Jaan · 45 years" and "Lagaan · 25 years."
Anchored to anniversary storytelling: 10th, 25th, 45th and 50th year milestones of films.
150+ films screened and premiered in Canada since 2014, building on AME Telefilms' work since 2006.
20 years of legacy bringing meaningful Indian cinema to audiences in Canada.
Premiering in Toronto this fall, 4–11 October 2026.
Proof of Concept
13 & 14 May 2026 · Aga Khan Museum, Toronto
45th Anniversary
A landmark of Urdu literary cinema, revisited for a new generation of festival audiences.
25th Anniversary
Celebrating a quarter-century of one of Indian cinema's most globally resonant stories.
Presented as a special preview at CLF Chapter II in May 2026. These screenings drew literary and cultural audiences together, ahead of CLIFF's full 2026 edition.
Competitive Landscape
None of them combine classic-film retrospective + literary adaptation + living author in one format. That combination is CLIFF's brand.
| Festival | Base | Known For | What CLIFF Has That They Don't |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFFI Goa | India | Scale, government backing | Diaspora reach + literary provenance |
| UK Asian Film Festival | London | Longest-running South Asian festival outside India | Live author-to-adaptation pairings |
| SAIFF | New York | Largest South Asian premiere platform in the US | Classic-film retrospectives, not premieres alone |
| IFFM | Melbourne | State-backed, large Bollywood draw | A dedicated literary-cinema curatorial identity |
2026 Screenings
The Ask
| Tier | What It Includes | Best Fit For |
|---|---|---|
| Presenting Partner | Top-tier branding across CLIFF, co-presentation billing | Brands aligned with legacy/heritage storytelling |
| Co-Presenting Partner | Branding on a single edition, screening slate input | Brands aligned with legacy/heritage storytelling |
| Screening Partner | A dedicated slot for a title or retrospective | Filmmakers, archives, distributors, cinemas |
| Supporting Partner | Acknowledgement across all promotional assets | Brands |
Figures and exact inclusions indicative, pending confirmation.
Get in Touch
4 – 11 October 2026 · Toronto, Canada