Toronto International Film Festival Reveals 2024 Awards Categories and Jurors
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has officially announced its 2024 awards categories, along with the distinguished juries set to evaluate the films in competition. This year’s lineup includes the much-anticipated return of the Best Canadian Discovery Award, which had been on hiatus since 2019. This award, now under a new name and with revised criteria, aims to recognize emerging Canadian filmmakers whose work enriches the national cinematic landscape. All first or second feature films by Canadian filmmakers selected for Official Selection are eligible for this award, which comes with a $10,000 cash prize.
Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer at TIFF, emphasized the significance of these awards, stating, “TIFF’s annual Festival awards for films in Official Selection are integral to recognizing the excellence and artistry within our industry. Every year, we gather to celebrate the wide spectrum of cinematic talent with the collaboration and endorsement of our distinguished global juries and peers.”
The jury for the Best Canadian Feature Film Award, presented by Canada Goose, and the Best Canadian Discovery Award consists of three esteemed members: Estrella Araiza, General Director of the Guadalajara International Film Festival; Chelsea McMullan, a Toronto-based director and producer known for her work in documentary and experimental narrative films; and Randall Okita, a Japanese Canadian artist and filmmaker recognized for his innovative storytelling across multiple mediums.
In addition to the Canadian-focused awards, TIFF has also announced the international juries for other categories. The FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) jury, dedicated to awarding the Prize of International Critics to an emerging filmmaker’s debut feature, includes prominent film critics such as Li Cheuk-to from Hong Kong, Pierre-Simon Gutman from France, and Azadeh Jafari from Iran. The NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema) Award jury will honor the best Asian film by a first or second-time feature director, with jurors including Hannah Fisher, Dr. Vilsoni Hereniko, and Kerri Sakamoto.
The People’s Choice Awards, a longstanding TIFF tradition now in its 47th year, continue to be a bellwether for the Oscars, with past winners such as "Slumdog Millionaire" and "American Fiction" going on to significant success. All feature films and Primetime series in TIFF’s Official Selection are eligible, with the winners announced on September 15, 2024, at the festival’s closing ceremony.
The festival, which has a rich history of recognizing both international and Canadian talent, will see all its awards presented at TIFF Lightbox in Toronto, Canada, highlighting the global collaboration and appreciation for cinematic excellence that the festival fosters each year. The full list of awards and their respective juries can be found on the official TIFF website.