FILM | LIFT Summer 2011 Workshop Season
Budding filmmakers and enthused cinephiles will be delighted to hear that today marks the return of the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto summer workshops. The 2011 workshop season features courses designed for beginners interested in learning cinematography and directing as well as concentrated areas such as Super 8 filmmaking, documentary film and camera theory. All workshops use LIFT's training facilities and class sizes are kept small to create an intensive learning environment. Tonight's first workshop with ACTRA discusses finding actors for independent films. While this first workshop is free, further seminars begin at $50 per session.
Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (1137 Dupont Street) 7PM Free

THEATRE | The 6th Annual InspiraTO Festival
The InspiraTO Festival can be summed up quite easily: one theme, eight plays, ten minutes each. Canada's largest ten-minute play festival is back in T.O. for its 6th year and the theme surrounding this year's performances is sound. The all-original works will take place in two performance series, redSound, which features plays about sound that disturbs, and blueSound, which will focus on sounds that drift. The festival's 16 plays will be in theatres on select dates until June 11th and learning and participant workshops will also be available. The top four plays will close the festival in the June 12th finale performance.
Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley Street) 8PM $17

ART | Toronto Burlesque Photography
Canadian photographer Craig C. Cochrane brings his exhibit of images featuring Toronto burlesque performers to Yorkville's Liss Gallery beginning tonight. Exploring the juxtaposition of movement, costuming and attitude between in-studio photos and images from Toronto's long-standing live burlesque show "Appeteasers," Cochrane's images are bold, flirty and sensual with a journalistic twist. The reception will feature a burlesque vignette and the artist will be in attendance.
Liss Gallery (140 Yorkville Avenue) 6:30PM Free

ENVIRONMENT | Night of the Forest
Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) is a not-for-profit organization that is hosting their 15th annual fundraiser tonight at the Steam Whistle Brewery. Committed to sustaining urban forests while educating and training individuals to continue their work with the local environment, LEAF is throwing a bash that features a silent auction with prizes from local merchants and attractions. Attendees will listen to live performances by Canadian musicians Gentlemen Reg and Poplar Pines and get to experience an indoor urban forest with living trees and shrubs. What better way to support local forests than with local beer and local bands?
Steam Whistle Brewery (255 Bremner Boulevard) 7PM $35 advance, $40 at door

FUNDRAISER | Put Your Heart Into It
Tom Cochrane is in Toronto tonight to perform at Put Your Heart Into It, a fundraising event on the CNE grounds for World Vision's Campaign for Children. Cochrane will perform to support the charity he has worked in association with since the late '80s. Other performances will include the music of Jarvis Church and the comedy of Colin Mochrie all in support of international relief and development efforts.
The Queen Elizabeth Theatre (190 Princes' Boulevard) 7PM $25

ART | Transcendence Revisited
Abstract painters Anne Barkley and Serafino Catallo bring their joint exhibition Transcendence Revisited to Leonardo Galleries tonight in conjunction with the Yorkville Art Walk. Barkley, an active member of Canadian art groups including the Society of Canadian Artists and Visual Arts Ontario, has recently exhibited her work in New York City and Florence. Her Transcendence works consist of soft, blended colours and shapes while her co-exhibitor, Catallo, uses staining and dripping techniques to create ambience in his pieces. Catallo is a regular exhibitor at Leonardo Galleries and has been commissioned to paint for several large corporations across North America. The exhibit runs until June 25th.
Leonardo Galleries (133 Avenue Road) 6:30PM Free

Also on our radar:

• Paper Surroundings
• Antiquing Trip and Arts Festival
• Point Pedro to Colombo Opening Reception
• Vietnam Now! Opening Reception

Photo by Carl W. Heindl in the blogTO Flickr pool.