Closing Time: Toronto Student Filmmakers Capture the Struggles and Dreams of Being an Artist

In a bustling bar in Toronto's West End, director Molly Lindsay talked candidly about what it means to be an aspiring filmmaker in the city. Meanwhile, I managed to catch her collaborator and co-director Aidan Thomson over the phone during a brief break from his hectic studies at Montreal’s Concordia University, where he’s completing his degree at one the country’s most respected film schools. Molly and Aidan met just a few months ago and quickly became creative partners. Both coming from film student backgrounds, they understood the challenges of being an artist with a dream of making it–and this shared experience became the driving force behind their short film Closing Time. 

Behind the Scenes of Closing Time

The story follows Mick, a young artist in his twenties stuck washing dishes at a lonely Italian restaurant, dreaming of life as a painter. When a local gallery calls with an unexpected opportunity to display his work, everything changes, but the path to his big break proves more complicated than he imagined. Between reconnecting with an ex and facing the obstacles that threaten to derail his moment, Mick discovers what he’s truly willing to sacrifice for his art. 

Having seen an exclusive rough cut, I can confidently say Closing Time captures the bittersweet reality of chasing creative dreams. It’s a coming-of-age story that will resonate with anyone who’s ever longed for their shot at the spotlight. Mick’s blend of determination and untested passion makes him simultaneously relatable, compelling, and vulnerable–you find yourself rooting for him even when his naivety might be his biggest obstacle. 

photo credit: Kieran Davies-King

Turning Personal Struggles Into Creative Power

Both directors brought deeply personal experiences with artistic rejection to the film. "Maybe I'm not cut out for this," Molly recalled thinking when film schools rejected her applications one after another—she was only accepted to Concordia late in the process, almost as an afterthought. Aidan shared his own struggle of straddling two worlds: art and hockey, explaining how pursuing creative work leaves you far more exposed than any sport ever could.

This vulnerability becomes even more intimate when you learn that all of Mick's artwork in the film is actually Aidan's own pieces. There's something raw about putting your creative work on screen, knowing it might face the same rejection that artists know all too well. When your art gets dismissed, it feels like a judgment on who you are as a person. 

The Challenges of Independent Student Filmmaking in Toronto

Budget constraints proved to be one of the project's biggest hurdles. Aidan explained that location costs and equipment rentals consumed a large portion of their funds, while scheduling became an equally daunting challenge—from racing against golden hour light to filming inside Aidan's family's active restaurant during actual dinner service.

Molly spoke openly about how crucial family support became to the production, particularly when they needed loans for additional gear rental. When their original timeline and financial plan inevitably went sideways, the entire cast and crew rallied together, going above and beyond to keep the project moving forward.

photo credit: Liz Fraser

Love, Loss, and Letting Go in Closing Time

While this film centers on the stakes of an artist, it's equally a story about letting go. Molly and I spent considerable time discussing the delicate way the film honors a past relationship; how sometimes the most loving act is to accept that something beautiful has ended and move forward with grace. Mick finds himself trapped between past and present, caught up in late-night drunk calls and longing for something that perhaps belongs to memory rather than reality.

At the end of my interviews, when I asked both Molly and Aidan if another project was in the works, they both enthusiastically said they plan to collaborate again with the same team of humble, passionate young artists and crew who made Closing Time possible. Witnessing this kind of optimistic collaboration and genuine passion for bringing stories to life was truly inspiring.

This is exactly the kind of raw, authentic filmmaking Toronto needs more of. Don't miss your chance to witness where it all began for what could be the city's next breakout creative partnership.

Where to Watch the Premiere of Closing Time

Closing Time premieres September 29th at The Royal Theatre on College Street. Showtime is 8pm—secure your tickets now here!

Closing Time Instagram:  @closingtime_film by directors Molly Lindsay @bymollylindsay and Aidan Thomson @_avt_art_

 And production Photography by Kieran Davies-King and Liz Fraser.