TORONTO – WEBWIRE – Friday, August 1, 2025
Shared today are: Guillermo del Toro, Jodie Foster, HIKARI, and Lee Byung Hun
Brendan Fraser announced as Honorary Chair for the annual awards gala taking place on Sunday, September 7
Rolex signs on as the exclusive Presenting Partner of this years Tribute Awards
Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF, is delighted to announce the first group of honourees of the seventh annualTIFF Tribute Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions to cinema and serving as the kick-off to awards season. Academy Awardwinning Mexican-born filmmakerGuillermo del Torowill receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, two-time Academy Award winner and boundary-defying artistJodie Fosterwill receive the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, award-winning Japanese writer, director, and producerHIKARIwill receive the TIFF Emerging Talent Award; and award-winning South Korean actorLee Byung Hunis the recipient of a TIFF Special Tribute Award, attending TIFF this year with the North American Gala premiere of Park Chan-wooksNo Other Choice. Academy Awardwinning actor and 2022 Tribute Performer Award recipientBrendan Fraserwill return to the Tribute Awards as the 2025 Honorary Chair. The seventh annual TIFF Tribute Awards will take place on Sunday, September 7, at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Were thrilled to announce this years recipients, each of whom has left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape: from the commanding talent of Lee Byung Hun; the visionary imagination of maestro Guillermo del Toro; the evocative storytelling of HIKARI; to the incomparable career of actor, filmmaker, and icon Jodie Foster. Were honoured to welcome these exceptional artists to Toronto for the seventh annual Tribute Awards, said Bailey. Were also delighted to welcome back Brendan Fraser, our 2022 Tribute Performer Award recipient, as this years Honorary Chair, a beloved artist and past honouree whose warmth, generosity, and passion for storytelling truly embody the spirit of our Festival.
Im honoured to return to Toronto once again and to the TIFF Tribute Awards, this time not as a recipient, but as this years Honorary Chair, said Fraser. TIFF has been meaningful to me and to be in this role during the Festivals landmark 50th edition is a privilege. TIFF continues to champion the kind of bold storytelling that brings people together, and Im thrilled to celebrate this years Tribute recipients.
The TIFF Tribute Awards gala is TIFFs largest annual fundraiser and a world-class celebration of cinematic excellence. Proceeds support TIFFs 50th anniversary campaign,Transform Together, advancing TIFFs talent development, honouring visionary artists, and deepening community impact. Presented in partnership with Rolex, with support from RBC, Don Julio, and Fairmont Royal York.
2025 TIFF Tribute Awards Honourees
Guillermo del Toro Ebert Director Award, supported by The Tory Family
Guillermo del Toro is attending the Festival with a Gala Presentation of his anticipated live-action feature,Frankenstein. His relationship with TIFF started with his debut featureCronos(TIFF 93) and continued throughout the years withMimic(TIFF 97),The Devils Backbone(TIFF 01),Pans Labyrinth(TIFF 06),Crimson Peak(TIFF 15), and his Peoples Choice AwardwinningThe Shape of Water(TIFF 17), which was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture and Best Director. Demonstrating his ongoing commitment to Canadian cinema, del Toro curated a TIFF Cinematheque series celebrating Canadian horror earlier this month and was recently honoured with a ceremonial key to the City of Toronto. Named after legendary film critic Roger Ebert, the honour previously known as the Golden Thumb Award has gone to celebrated visionaries such as Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Ava DuVernay, Wim Wenders, and the late Agns Varda. Becoming part of the Tribute event in 2019, past recipients include Mike Leigh (2024), Spike Lee (2023), Sam Mendes (2022), Denis Villeneuve (2021), Chlo Zhao (2020), and Taika Waititi (2019).
Jodie Foster Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, supported by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix
In a career spanning over 50 years, Jodie Foster is one of the most critically acclaimed actresses of her generation. Her powerful performance inNyad, which earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Academy Awards, had its World Premiere at TIFF 23. She now makes her return to the Festival (followingThe Brave Oneat TIFF 07) with Rebecca ZlotowskisPrivate Life, a French psychological mystery in which she plays a therapist. A groundbreaker both on and off the screen, Foster has not only built a legacy of complex, powerful performances, including her Oscar-winning roles inThe AccusedandThe Silence of the Lambs, but has also championed women filmmakers throughout her directing career, with films likeLittle Man TateandHome for the Holidays, among others. The TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix; and is inspired by TIFFs Share Her Journey initiative, created to address gender parity in the film industry, to champion women at every stage of their creative journey, and to shine a spotlight on women creators making a significant difference in the industry. Past recipients are Cate Blanchett (2024), Patricia Arquette (2023), and Michelle Yeoh (2022).
HIKARI TIFF Emerging Talent Award, Supported by Amazon MGM Studios
Writer, director, and producer HIKARI makes her second appearance at TIFF with the World Premiere of her sophomore featureRental Family, starring Tribute chair Brendan Fraser. Her debut feature37 Seconds(TIFF 19) received the Panorama Audience Award and the CICAE Award at the 69th Berlinale, among other international accolades. Having directed for both film and television, her recent credits includeBeefandTokyo Vice. Presented by Amazon MGM Studios, this award is in the spirit of Torontonian Mary Pickford, the groundbreaking actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, whose impact continues today. Past recipients include Durga Chew-Bose (2024), Carolina Markowicz (2023), Sally El Hosaini (2022), Danis Goulet (2021), Tracey Deer (2020), and Mati Diop (2019).
Lee Byung Hun TIFF Special Tribute Award
A global sensation, Lee Byung Hun has achieved massive success across film and television in both South Korea and Hollywood. Before breaking out internationally, he starred inJoint Security AreaandA Bittersweet Life, and went on to Korean blockbusters and global hits likeSquid Game,G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra,Red 2,Terminator Genisys, andThe Magnificent Seven. This is Byung Huns second appearance at TIFF and his second collaboration with Park Chan-wook. He was last in Toronto for the premiere ofConcrete Utopia(TIFF 23) and participated in an In Conversation with series. This award is presented to an individual who has made an extraordinary and unique contribution to the world of film, leaving a lasting legacy through their dedication and artistry. Previous recipients include Zhao Tao (2024), Andy Lau (2023), Dionne Warwick (2021), and David Foster (2019).
Brendan Fraser – TIFF Honorary Chair
Brendan Frasers nuanced performances and compelling role choices have earned him widespread acclaim. He starred in Darren AronofskysThe Whale(TIFF 22) and garnered multiple honours, including an Academy Award for Best Actor, a Critics Choice Movie Award, and a SAG Award. In HIKARIsRental Family, Fraser plays a man hired by a company that provides rental family services, where people are employed to act as stand-ins for friends or relatives. Fraser will next appear in Anthony MarasPressure, portraying Dwight D. Eisenhower, and in 2026, hell lend his voice to Tubis adult animated comedyBreaking Bear. His other recent work includes Steven SoderberghsNo Sudden Move,Doom Patrol,Line of Descent,The Secret of Karma,The Poison Rose,Trust, andCondor. Additional credits includeBrothers, Martin ScorsesesKillers of the Flower Moon,The Affair, andThe Field, among many others.
Film Announcement
TIFF will present the North American Premiere of Park Chan-wooksNo Other Choice, in which Byung Hun stars, as part of the Gala Presentations programme:
No Other Choice| Park Chan-wook | South Korea
North American Premiere | Gala
New this year, Rolex has signed on as the exclusive Presenting Partner of the 2025 TIFF Tribute Awards. RBC, one of TIFFs long-time Major Sponsors, is a new Supporting Partner. Don Julio and Fairmont Royal York are returning once again as Supporting Partners.
Rolex in Cinema
Rolex celebrates human achievement, recognizing the journey marked by milestones and emotions that culminate in defining moments, determined by a path followed, not just an award. For more than half a century, Rolex has partnered with some of the worlds most talented artists and leading cultural institutions to celebrate excellence and promote the transfer of artistic heritage, creating a link between the past, present, and future. Through the Rolex Perpetual Arts Initiative, a broad portfolio of arts that extends through architecture, cinema, dance, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts, the company confirms its long-term commitment to global culture. In all these endeavours, Rolex supports distinction in the arts and the transmission of knowledge to future generations, who in turn pass on the worlds cultural legacy.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, presented by Rogers, runs September 414, 2025. Stay tuned for more TIFF announcements.
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About TIFF
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. A global leader in film and entertainment, TIFF initiatives include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning and entertainment facilities; the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit, an innovative national distribution program; and TIFF: The Market launching in 2026. The organization generates an estimated annual economic impact of $240 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel, and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation, and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.
TIFF is generously supported by Festival Presenting Sponsor Rogers Communications.
TIFF is generously supported by Major Sponsors RBC and Visa and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto.
The TIFF Tribute Awards Gala in partnership with Rolex is supported by RBC, Don Julio and Fairmont Royal York.
The Ebert Director Award is supported by The Tory Family.
The TIFF Emerging Talent Award is supported by Amazon MGM Studios.
The Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix.
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