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.
On Screen at CLIFF 2026
Where to Start
The Idea
Cinema as literature's continuation.
Learn more →
Book Now
The full 2026 line-up, including our Gala Screenings.
See screenings →
Pre-Order
Titles by the authors and filmmakers on our stage.
Browse books →
Get Involved
For brands and cultural partners.
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“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.
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 |
CLIFF 2026
Every film at CLIFF is a story that once lived somewhere else first. Tickets for each screening are booked through our ticketing partner, Zeffy :: click "Book Now" on any title to be taken to its dedicated booking page.
Gala Screenings
CLIFF's signature Gala Screenings pair a film with the storyteller behind it :: a live conversation with the author or filmmaker whose book became the screen story, or whose film became the book. This year's theme, Adaptive, centres on two of India's most distinctive literary-cinematic voices.
Based on Chetan Bhagat's novel Five Point Someone. A screening followed by a live conversation with the author.
Production Vinod Chopra Films
Director Rajkumar Hirani
Venue To be confirmed
Date To be confirmed · CLIFF 2026, 4–11 October
Film and title to be announced :: a conversation on adaptation, cinema and storytelling.
Production To be confirmed
Director Vivek Agnihotri
Venue To be confirmed
Date To be confirmed · CLIFF 2026, 4–11 October
Full Programme
CLIFF 2026 will present 15–20 films across the festival week. Titles are being added as they're confirmed.
Click to preview
Production Integrated Films
Director Muzaffar Ali
Venue Aga Khan Museum, Toronto
Date 14 May 2026, 7:00 PM
Duration 145 min
Click to preview
Production Aamir Khan Productions
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Venue Aga Khan Museum, Toronto
Date 13 May 2026, 7:30 PM
Duration 224 min
15–20 films confirmed for October. Send posters and details to add them here.
15–20 films confirmed for October. Send posters and details to add them here.
Pre-Order
Reserve a copy, signed edition included where noted, and collect it at the festival. Pre-orders are reserved through our order form and paid by Interac e-Transfer ahead of pickup.
Choose your title, format and quantity, then submit the pre-order form.
You'll receive payment instructions by email :: pay by Interac e-Transfer to confirm your order.
Pick up your copy at the venue, before, during or after the screening.
Handed to you at the venue during CLIFF 2026.
Send covers and pricing to add remaining titles.
Pricing, signed-edition availability and the pre-order form link are pending confirmation. Payment is by Interac e-Transfer, a standard Canadian bank-to-bank email transfer.
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