Calvin Liu

Honored to receive the Canadian Society of Cinematographers award for Best Cinematography at the @reelasian festival for my short film Motel Grand-Pré. Thank you to @canadiancinematographer for sponsoring this award and the award jury members @alanpoon_csc @gayle_ye @kimiles Carolyn Wong and @zoedirse Grateful to have shared this recognition with @samlierl and @andrewlea__ Thank you to @main_film and @cineground for supporting me with the equipments. This project was made possible through the Unsung Voices Program.

Self-portrait: I've heard that we are the average of the five people closest to us.

CEMENT - THE PRESSURE OF CONCRETE A film by Lucile Parry-Canet. I'm excited to finally share this project that I shot with Lucile in 2023. When I got admitted to Concordia University, I followed two cinematographers who inspired me on Instagram out of curiosity to know a bit about their journey, Alexandre Nour @alexandre_nour and Max Machado @maxmachado . That's when I discovered the Canadian Society of Cinematographers, because they were respectively nominated and represented Concordia University @concordiauniversity six and five years ago in the student category. I knew from that moment that it was going to be my goal before graduating from school, even if it felt more like an unreachable goal that I should aim for but never achieve. Two weeks ago, I woke up and received an email saying, "Congratulations to the CSC 2024..." I still can't believe this collaboration will take us to the @canadiancinematographer in a category sponsored by @panavisionofficial next month. Thank you, Lucile, for your trust. This is a reminder that authenticity, vulnerability, and hard work pay off. I remember how difficult it was shooting in a war bunker at -15 degrees. Since this film was also a performance piece, most of the shots/scenes are only a one take, and we couldn't redo the take because the performer could only perform once in the cold. But despite the harsh and cold environment, we had a heartwarming team that I was fortunate to collaborate with, which made the shoot so smooth and memorable. Producer - Evgeny Patvakanov @evgeny.jpg Director of photography - Calvin Liu Assistant Director - Alex Khoury @personacrysis Art direction - Alex Khoury and Emma Khoury @emma.the.hermit Camera Operator - Ilya Naseko @ilya_nasa 1st Ac - Yann Reynolds @yann_reynolds Gaffer - Emma Khoury Special Rigging - Alexandre Fontaine @alexonwings and Magali Crête Sound - Natasha Hernández Canett @Natashanhc VFX - Jayson Vong @jayson_vong

"Presenting a photo series inspired by the negative self-talk I carry through daily life. I wanted to explore how different facets of my being shape every version of myself; how they hold me back, push me forward, and influence the way I move through the world. We all carry beliefs formed by circumstance, culture, and expectation. The beliefs presented are as followed: propelled by my Slovenian ancestral talents and diseases and I am in a constant state of cultural decay. Shamed by my guilt of being unchaste and sexually deviant that can lure men to inferior choices. Gratified by all the silent battles that have been overcome and prepared for the next fight. Abashed by my fear and awe of the supreme and at odds of what it is to live a normal life, leaving the freedom of monastic existence. And finally, apologetic for the insecurities and empathy I induce in others and myself for the handicap that was created for me in the womb. With an incredible team, we brought these inner voices to life by creating otherworldly images that once existed only in my mind. Staying true to my studio-built aesthetic, we transformed a tiny space with painted backdrops, set pieces, and handmade costumes. Shot on large-format 4x5 films, the series lives just beyond reality, because none of these selves are truly accurate reflections of me." By Natasha Bianchet with Joseph Fitzmorris Artistic Director and Costume Design - @lady_natashenka Director of photography - @liu.ca MUA - @mich_dubu Gaffer - @gauthiermillet Key grip - @yarikl Grips @sebastianpadillapaz and Joey Van Melle Special thanks to @aiden_nicell @evangelosjames

Air Canada Short Film or Video Award

All short films and videos are eligible for this prize. Opportunity to be broadcasted on Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment screens on all flights.

 Congratulations to ⭐KARUPY, Kalainithan Kalaichelvan ⭐MOTEL GRAND-PRÉ, Calvin Liu ⭐HAIR!, Sara Jade Alfaro-Dehghani ⭐BUGSICK, Silverfish Pictures ⭐WE WERE THE SCENERY, Christopher Radcliff 

Jury Statement: “The jury put a great deal of thought into the selection of the five films for this year’s Air Canada Short Film or Video Award. The final selection represents the diversity of talent, vision and form behind all films selected at the festival. From a matriarch’s rebellious stance at a family gathering, an intimate portrayal of a family-run business in eastern Quebec, a ritualistic hair removal merging culture and sisterhood, a sad bug’s healing process after a break up, to a refugee couples venture into film, this selection brings an experience that delivers the heart and truth of the human experience, and the bravery needed to deliver it.”

 💟 Watch KARUPY on Fri Nov 7 at 12PM at TIFF Lightbox preceding BURY US IN A LONE DESERT

 💟 Watch MOTEL GRAND-PRÉ on Sun Nov 9 at 1PM at TIFF Lightbox as part of the UNSUNG VOICES 14 shorts presentation!

 💟 Watch HAIR! on Sat Nov 8 1PM at TIFF Lightbox as part of FAMILY STYLE shorts presentation!

 💟 Watch WE WERE THE SCENERY on Sat Nov 8 at 6:30PM at TIFF Lightbox as part of the OTHERWORLDS shorts presentation!

 💟 Watch BUGSICK on Sat Nov 8 at 9PM at TIFF Lightbox as part of the UNQUENCHABLE shorts presentation! Thank you to @aircanada  for sponsoring this award!

I’m excited to share that my short film Steppe by Steppe will premiere at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival as part of the Unsung Voices program next month! It's been an amazing experience with a fantastic cohort and I'm thankful for all the support from @reelasian !!! 🎬 November 9, 2025 — 1:00 PM at TIFF Lightbox C2 STEPPE BY STEPPE a film by Jordan Tsering. Starring Dave Duong, Simran Manghirmalani, Roberto Zorfini. @dave.duong @sim_sim_ma @robertozorfini Sonam's friends - Ngawang Datok and Xavier Truong @nawangdatok @chefcurrywitheshot Luna's friends - Asmina Thirunavukarasu and Virushigaa Srikumar @atshu.from.ashes @virushigaasrikumar Producers - Calvin Liu, Evgeny Patvakanov, Amreen Kullar @evgeny.jpg Executive Producer - Made In Exile @madeinexile Production assistant - Corinne Langmuir @corinnelangmuir Director of photography - Calvin Liu @liu.ca Production Designer - Jin Ok @jin_is.ok Costume - Natacha Bianchet @lady_natashenka 1st Assistant Director - Fabrizio Paulino @manuel_tranquilo 2nd Assistant Director - Thomas Saito 1st Assistant Camera - Ilya Naseko 2nd Assistant Camera - Samuel Li Prep Assistant Camera - Andrew Lee Gaffer - Oleksii Slavitskyi Key Grip - Yaroslav Lykov Sound Recordist - Anda Amar and Léandre Lambert Lefebvre Set dresser - Alexandra Ouchev Prop Master - Juliette Monnier Make Up Artist - Andrea Minav Assistant MUA and Set stylist - Melina Ouellet Grips - Kyle Ruggiero, Nicolas Uribe, Shak L-Vanny, Salim-Raphael Muhirwa, Ben Nossik Script Supervisor - Siham Medjahed and Corinne Langmuir Choreography by Asmina Thirunavukarasu Music - Cheong-Hoon Kim Sound designer - Zacky Makeen Colorist - Andrew Lea Bts photographer - Tamim Ahmed Craft - Changqing Liu, Evgeny Patvakanov, Tamim Ahmed Special Thanks Chrisann Hessing Aram Collier Jasmine Gui Joseph Chung Amreen Kullar Carthy Ngo Phil Labonte Cinema du Parc Walid Kafi Raymond Francisco Leonardo Fico Luka Sanader Aiden Nicell Maxime Lapointe Calvin and I also want to specially thank Cineground, Luka Sanader and Maxime Lapointe for their help on this film. (Sorry I can't tag everyone because of instagram - but thank you to the entire team!)

I’m happy to share that my short documentary Motel Grand-Pré will avant-premiere at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival as part of the Unsung Voices program. Grateful to have developed this project with their support. @reelasian 🎬 November 9, 2025 — 1:00 PM at TIFF Lightbox C2 It’s been a few years since I first wanted to make this short film about my father — a quirky, funny Chinese motel owner in Gaspésie, a remote region of Quebec, who finds peace in fishing. He’s one of the few Asian people in this part of the province, and his quiet presence there has always stayed with me. Growing up, I never had deep conversations with him. Our talks always drifted toward what he liked: American-Chinese politics, quantum physics, or cryptic life lessons. This film has been a way for me to explore the distance between us — and to learn how to share time together. MOTEL GRAND-PRÉ A film by Calvin Liu Starring my father Changqing Liu, Chantal Perry, Pierrette Boucher, Diane Boucher and Mario Poirier. Produced, shot and edited - Calvin Liu Sound design & mix - Bernice Chu @chube.mov Composer - Jenny Liu 1st AC - Samuel Li @samlierl Colorist - Andrew Lea @andrewlea__ Special Thanks to everyone who helped me making this film ❤️ Xixuan Guo, Kitty, Shenghan Gao @merrrena , Joseph Chung @kimchijoe , Ammar Keshodia @akeshodia , Carthy Ngo @carth , Amreen Kullar @amreenk_ , Aram Siu Wai Collier @aramcollier , Ellen Yuna Ahn @ellen.yuna , Jasmine Gui @jaziimun , Lucile Parry-Canet @luca.medias , Tamim Ahmed @fatwhale007 , @main_film , @cineground . Film dev - @melsstudios Film Scan - @frame_discreet @kodak_shootfilm #shotonfilm #16mm

This nomination is for my dad. Growing up, I think he hoped I’d find a “real” job—one that made money and 养活自己 (that I could support myself). He imagined I might take over the family business, get into real estate, maybe become an engineer or a doctor. When I got into film school, he was happy I got into university—but I could tell he didn’t take it too seriously. In Mandarin, he used to say I was just 玩摄影 (playing with photography). I still remember the moment he walked into my room and saw this film on my computer for the first time. The look on his face changed. He was proud of the images. He said, “This looks like a real movie!” And I think, for the first time, he stopped seeing it as just playing. Thank you to the CSC @canadiancinematographer for the nomination, and to Panavision @panavisionofficial for sponsoring. And thank you, Jacob, for trusting me with this project. THE CLEARING — starring Bob Eichenberger, Frédéric Lavallée, and Ingunn Omholt. Writer, Producer, Director: @jacobxstefiuk Executive Producer: @scaffographe Director of Photography: @liu.ca Assistant Director: @haute.definition Production Manager: @david_gaudette_ Production Designer: @fatwhale007 Assistant Prod. Designer: @lady_natashenka Costume Designer: @beatrice.leveille 1st Assistant Camera: @alexbeausejour Sound Recordist: @k_welles Post-Prod. Manager: @Guillaume.chabot Editor: @haute.definition Colourist: @tristan.lauzon Sound Editor: @timour.tchk Sound Designer: @vieuxmonsieurgaspesien Composer: @silasmgoodman Mixer: @jeremiemazan

OMBRA – ENCORE! BIOMATÉRIAUX with @n__jg @monsieurcrayon Follow @encorebiomat to support their mission! Super proud and grateful of this one with an incredible team. Shoutout MVP @ilya_nasa Producer – Calvin Liu @liu.ca Co-Directors – Tamim Ahmed @fatwhale007 and Calvin Liu @liu.ca Script – Tamim Ahmed @fatwhale007 Art Director – Tamim Ahmed @fatwhale007 Director of Photography – Calvin Liu @liu.ca Editor – Shenghan Gao @merrrena Sound Design – Imogen Lapp @imogen.blooms 1st Assistant Camera – Ilya Naseka @ilya_nasa and Peiying Liu @py_lits Gaffer – Alexandra Ouchev @a.l.e.x.ouuuuuu and Ilya Naseka @ilya_nasa Grip – Ilya Naseka and Santiago Pereira Color Grading – Omar Metaich @omar.metaich Nicolas – Nicolas Jourdan-Gassin @n__jg Alex – Alexandre Savard @monsieurcrayon Waitress – Julie Panot Narrator – Matilde Luna Perotti Voice Over – Matilde Luna Perotti, Nicolas Bouvier, Elliot Chevalier Music: The Director – Cliffhanger (2024, KOOKOO RECORDS) @thedirectorgram NOON – Waiting Room (2023, NOON Recordings) @noon.msc Filming Location: Brasserie Noctem — Thank you for your welcome and support! A heartfelt thank you to our families, friends, and partners — La Base Entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal, 2 Degrés, Esplanade Québec — and to everyone who has supported and believed in us since the very beginning!

DÉCONSTRUIRE Et si l’on repensait notre façon de transformer le bâti ? Déconstruire est un court-métrage qui nous expose une nouvelle manière de faire, plus durable, pour (re)mettre en valeur les matériaux qui composent nos bâtiments. Réalisation : Lucile Parry-Canet Production : LUCA Productions @luca.medias Productrice exécutive : Nathalie Drapeau Productrice : Lucile Parry-Canet Direction photo : Calvin Liu @liu.ca Assistance caméra : Sophie Lagendyk @sophielagendyk Son : Evgeny Patvakanov @evgeny.jpg Montage, conception sonore et mix : Lucile Parry-Canet Colorisation : Tristan Lauzon @tristan.lauzon Participants : Sophie Bourdages, Hortense Montoux, Nathalie Drapeau, Simon Villeneuve, Stéphane Lambert Figuration : Émilie Chiasson, Eléonore Nouel, Laura Schmitt, Dany Perry, Yves Poirier, Rémi Gagné, Clément Gagné Remerciements : Andréanne Pelletier, Zoé Bernatchez (Rénovation CM inc.), Dave Lavoie, Nicolas Bellerose, Nathalie Archambault, Alain Dunn, l’équipe de l’écocentre de Gaspé, Shadi Ajam, CERIEC, École de technologie supérieure Avec le soutien financier de : RECYC-QUÉBEC, RITMRG, SADC du Rocher-Percé, SADC de Gaspé, MRC du Rocher-Percé, MRC de La Côte-de-Gaspé

Shygrass

Centre La Bouée - Campagne de lancement 2025 1. @felixsimardt and @thomas.dauteuil had some crazy ideas: a printer shoots papers on an entrepreneur until he drowns under an ocean of papers. I wanted to make it look as real as possible and minimize vfx. I wasn’t sure how to achieve it but I had some ideas and took a bet. 2. After numinous attempts, almost giving up:(( and rely on VFX, the final prototype of the printer finally worked!!! :)) 3. It’s a small detail, but in the first shot of the ads, we wanted to be able to control the clock’s hands movement wirelessly, making it going backwards. I knew I wanted to control it with the nucleus nano but I couldn’t find the easiest way to connect the motor to the gears of the clock until @ilya_nasa came to help. 4. He simply put an elastic band using friction LOL. 5. Gascon had the office phone we wanted, but they are all non functional. We had to find a way to turn on each channel one by one. I bought some red led strips from Amazon and I asked Ilya if he could help meet design a little plastic sleeves, as a I pull it out, it would reveal one by one the LEDs. 6. Overhead plan. Shoutout to @aiden_nicell for spending a whole day prelighting with me and for that smooooooooth buoy slide down using a rope on the last shot. 7. Cinetracer previs 8. The dust falling from the ceiling was buckwheat flour set on a net. 9. The only shot on a spherical lens was the Jena 20mm t2.9. The rest of the ad was shot a on custom anamorphic zoom I’ve been geeking out lately.;) 10. Inspired by Harry Potter 1 The letter from Hogwarts Scene. starring. @simonlabelle_ouimet voice by Emmanuel Bédard ⁣⁣⁣ creative dir. @pierrepilon writing @felixsimardt & @thomas.dauteuil dir. @felixsimardt & @thomas.dauteuil prod co. @moon.struhk prod. @samuel.doiron ep. @jaycee pc. catherinefournier ⁣⁣⁣ dop. @liu.ca 1st ac. @ilya_nasa gaffer. @aiden_nicell ⁣⁣⁣ art dir. @calmylin practicals @ilya_nasa & ⁣⁣⁣@liu.ca bts & art assist. @fatwhale007 hmu. @jacinthe.benoit vfx @le_jumper sound co. @reservoiraudio sound des. @frankfante music. @mglobensky_ grade. @thomas.dauteuil thanks to @societealzheimerrivesud @cineground @slalocation