TIFF announces its 2024 award winners

Sep 16, 2024

After 11 days of cinematic magic, moments, and memories, TIFF officially concludes the 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, by celebrating the best of the fest with its annual awards slate. A total of 10 awards were handed out at the awards ceremony, including jury-awarded prizes and the renowned People’s Choice Awards, also presented by Rogers, that signals the official start to awards season.

“As we conclude this year’s Festival and present these 10 awards today, I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated juries, our TIFF programmers, and all of the filmmakers who have shared their work with us,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF. “Most importantly, I want to thank our audience, who are truly the best in the world. Their passion and enthusiasm bring this festival to life every year, and we couldn’t do it without them. To The Life of Chuck, The Substance, and The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, this year’s winners of the People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, I can’t wait to see the future awards and accolades that await your incredible films.”

Eben Bolter ASC BSC shot Life of Chuck (audience award winner) and Benjamin Kračun BSC shot The Substance (People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award)

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PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD PRESENTED BY ROGERS

The 47th edition of TIFF’s People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, has been distinguished as the audience’s top title at the Festival as voted by the viewing public. All feature films and series in TIFF’s Official Selection are eligible.

People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award presented by Rogers is The Substance, dir. Coralie Fargeat | United Kingdom/USA/France
The first runner-up is Dead Talents Society, dir. John Hsu | Taiwan
The second runner-up is Friendship, dir. Andrew DeYoung | USA

People’s Choice Documentary Award presented by Rogers is The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, dir. Mike Downie | Canada
The first runner-up is Will & Harper, dir. Josh Greenbaum | USA
The second runner-up is Your Tomorrow, dir. Ali Weinstein | Canada

People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers is: The Life of Chuck, dir. Mike Flanagan | USA
The first runner-up is Emilia Pérez, dir. Jacques Audiard | France/USA/Mexico
The second runner-up is Anora, dir. Sean Baker | USA

SHORT CUTS AWARDS

Short Cuts Awards are for Best International Film and Best Canadian Film. Each of the two winning films will receive a bursary of $10,000 CAD. The 2024 jurors for the Short Cuts Awards were Luis De Filippis, Micah Kernan, and Shane Smith.

Short Cuts Award for Best International Film:
Deck 5B, dir. Malin Ingrid Johansson | Sweden

Short Cut Jury’s statement: “By subverting narrative expectations at every turn, while adding layers of insight and potent emotional truths that evocatively illustrate the tensions between motherhood and desire, this deeply moving film enthralled the jury, staying with us long after we’d watched it. Helmed by a gifted filmmaker, skillfully eliciting an exceptional performance from her lead actress, in service of a nuanced, heartbreaking story, the jury is thrilled to present the award for Best International Short Film to Deck 5B, directed by Malin Ingrid Johansson.”

Honourable Mention:
Quota, dir. Job Roggeveen, Joris Oprins, Marieke Blaauw | Netherlands

Short Cut Jury’s statement: “In its three-minute runtime, this inventive animation does exactly what the best shorts do: make us ask big questions in little timeframes. The work tackles the timely issue of the cost of human invention and innovation on our tired planet. In a world where going viral has become synonymous with success, it asks if perhaps the real virus is us and our unquenchable need for more. The jury is pleased to present an honourable mention to the filmmaking team of Job, Joris & Marieke for their short Quota. We also applaud the filmmakers for practicing what they preach by choosing not to attend the Festival this year as a way to limit their carbon footprint and stay within their ‘quota.’”

Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Film:
Are You Scared To Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail?, dir. Bec Pecaut | Canada

Short Cut Jury’s statement: “This filmmaker was able to capture a moment in life with such authenticity in an effortless way. The jury was inspired to join these characters on a heartful expedition through decisions that were scary, funny, challenging, and ultimately real. The exploration of familial bonds and how they shift during adulthood resulted in an emotional journey from start to finish. The jury is thrilled to award the Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film to director Bec Pecault for Are You Scared To Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail?”

FIPRESCI AWARD

The FIPRESCI jury is awarding the Prize of International Critics, dedicated to emerging filmmakers, to a debut feature film having its World Premiere in TIFF’s Discovery programme. The 2024 FIPRESCI jury members are Li Cheuk-to, Pierre-Simon Gutman, Azadeh Jafari, Saffron Maeve, and Wilfred Okiche.

FIPRESCI Award:
Mother Mother, dir. K’naan Warsame | Somalia

FIPRESCI Jury statement: “Mother Mother directed by K’naan Warsame depicts a humanistic approach towards a revenge narrative set in a country haunted by violence and grief. The film is remarkable in its non-sensationalist treatment of contentious politics through its parallels of the human and the natural world. Warsame’s feature debut, through its compelling formal attributes and charismatic acting, conveys a sense of hope and healing after tragedy.”

NETPAC AWARD

Presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema, the NETPAC Award recognizes films specifically from the Asian and Pacific regions. The jury consists of three international community members selected by TIFF and NETPAC, who award the prize to the best Asian film by a first or second-time feature director. The 2024 NETPAC jury members are Hannah Fisher, Dr. Vilsoni Hereniko, and Kerri Sakamoto.

NETPAC Award:
The Last of the Sea Women, dir. Sue Kim | USA

NETPAC Jury statement: “The 2024 NETPAC jury award goes to The Last of the Sea Women, for its moving and illuminating portrayal of the lives of the haenyeo, a group of elderly female divers on Jeju island, off the coast of South Korea. These women are sea warriors struggling against global warming and ocean pollution to keep a unique cultural practice alive. It is rare that a filmmaker would choose to highlight, elevate, and celebrate the daily struggles of women in their 60s and 70s, especially those from marginalized communities far from the centres of power. Director Sue Kim depicts the lives of these warriors on land and in the sea with beauty, humour, and compassion. It is a story that inspires and calls us to action.”

BEST CANADIAN DISCOVERY AWARD

Back this year after being on hiatus since 2019, and with a new name and new criteria, the Best Canadian Discovery Award celebrates works of emerging filmmakers who contribute to enriching the Canadian film landscape. All first or second feature films in Official Selection by Canadian filmmakers are eligible for this award. The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000. This year’s jury members were Estrella Araiza, Chelsea McMullan, and Randall Okita.

Best Canadian Discovery Award:
Universal Language, dir. Matthew Rankin | Canada

Jury’s Statement: “After an incredible year of films featuring a wildly diverse range of talent, heart and innovation, we are honored to present the Best Canadian Discovery Award to a film that boldly charts its own course through a poetic exploration of heart, home and human connection: the absurdly funny, sweet and soulful Universal Language.”

Honourable Mention:
You Are Not Alone, dirs. Marie-Hélène Viens, Philippe Lupien | Canada

Jury’s statement: “We would like to first give an Honourable Mention to You Are Not Alone, a film that entranced us with its outstanding performances, meticulously constructed tone, and wonderfully fresh approach to genre.”

BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM AWARD PRESENTED BY CANADA GOOSE

Canada Goose has always played a supporting role in the magic of filmmaking. TIFF continues to celebrate the unique craft and storytelling within Canadian cinema with the Best Canadian Feature Film Award. All Canadian feature films in Official Selection — excluding first or second features — will be considered for the award. The winning filmmaker will receive a $10,000 cash prize. The 2024 Best Canadian Feature Film Award is presented by Canada Goose.

Best Canadian Feature Film Award:
Shepherds, dir. Sophie Deraspe | Canada

Jury’s statement: “Among the many beautiful films showcased in the program this year, Shepherds rose above with its electrifying performances and staggering world-building that gave us a window into a harrowing journey of ambition, idealism, and what it means to live a full life.”

PLATFORM COMPETITION AWARD

The Platform Award is an award of $20,000 CAD given to the best film in the competition selected by an in-person international jury. This year’s jury members were Atom Egoyan, Hur Jin-ho, and Jane Schoenbrun.

Platform Award:
They Will Be Dust, dir. Carlos Marques-Marcet | Spain, Italy, Switzerland

Platform Jury statement: “They Will Be Dust was the unanimous choice for this year’s Platform Award amongst a very strong selection. Director Carlos Marques-Marcet has assembled a superb cast, with heartbreaking performances from Alfredo Castro and Ángela Molina. From the very first shot of the film, the jury knew it was in masterful hands. The film’s ability to mix moments of extreme pathos with humour was unique and completely convincing. This emotionally loaded story was told with great formal daring, a breathtaking sense of visual panache, and a deep sense of humanity.”

Honourable Mention:
Sylvia Chang in Daughter’s Daughter, dir. Huang Xi | Taiwan

Platform Jury statement: “The jury also wished to acknowledge the exceptional artistry of Sylvia Chang’s brilliant and extremely multilayered portrayal of a conflicted mother in Huang Xi’s film Daughter’s Daughter. This great actress has delivered one of her finest performances, and we are pleased to give this legend of Taiwanese cinema the most honourable of mentions.”

Last Sunday, the following were honoured with TIFF 2024 Tribute Awards, with Sandra Oh as Honourary Chair of the sixth annual fundraising gala: