TIFF at 50: New Awards, Seasoned Juries, and a Return to Ceremony

The Toronto International Film Festival, which marks its 50th edition this September, has unveiled the full lineup of awards and juries that will define this year’s celebration of cinema. The festival will close with an in-person awards ceremony at TIFF Lightbox on September 14, an event also livestreamed globally — a reminder of the festival’s enduring role as both local institution and international stage.

A Landmark Year

Presented by Rogers, TIFF 2025 runs September 4–14 and carries the weight of both tradition and reinvention. In addition to the festival’s cornerstone prizes, two new honors will debut: the International People’s Choice Award, an expansion of TIFF’s signature audience-voted prize, and a Short Cuts Award recognizing the year’s best animated short.

Spotlight on Canadian Cinema

Canadian filmmaking remains at the festival’s heart. The Best Canadian Feature Film Award will continue to honor distinctive storytelling from established voices, while the Best Canadian Discovery Award celebrates first or second features from emerging directors. Both prizes come with a $10,000 award.

The Canadian juries this year embody the breadth of the country’s creative talent. Documentary veteran Jennifer Baichwal, Swiss-Canadian filmmaker Sophie Jarvis, and director-screenwriter-producer R.T. Thorne — whose 40 Acres premiered at TIFF last year — will weigh the contenders.

International Perspectives

TIFF’s global outlook is reflected in its longstanding partnerships with critical bodies. The FIPRESCI Prize, adjudicated by an international panel of critics, will once again spotlight a debut film premiering in the Discovery programme. Jurors include Katharina Dockhorn of Berlin, Portuguese critic Francisco Ferreira, French journalist Jean-Philippe Guerand, Australian editor Andy Hazel, and Montreal-based critic-programmer Justine Smith.

The NETPAC Award, recognizing the best Asian or Pacific film by a first- or second-time director, will be decided by a jury led by French journalist Keoprasith Souvannavong, alongside cinema scholar Dina Iordanova and Toronto-based filmmaker Helen Lee.

The People’s Vote

Few awards carry as much anticipation as the People’s Choice, TIFF’s signature audience prize that has often foreshadowed Oscar success — from Chariots of Fire to Slumdog Millionaire and more recently American Fiction. For its 48th year, the program expands to include an International People’s Choice Award, joining categories for documentary, Midnight Madness, and overall feature film.

Platform and Shorts

TIFF’s competitive Platform program will be judged by Spanish director Carlos Marqués-Marcet, British actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Québécois filmmaker Chloé Robichaud. Meanwhile, the Short Cuts jury — Ashley Iris Gill, Marcel Jean, and Connor Jessup — will oversee prizes for Best Canadian Short, Best International Short, and the newly created Best Animated Short Film.

A Festival That Shapes Seasons

The awards, ranging from critics’ nods to audience ballots, affirm TIFF’s position as one of the most influential festivals in the world — one that balances Canada’s cultural identity with its international reach. On its 50th anniversary, the festival appears determined to honor its legacy while pointing toward new voices and new forms.

The full list of awards and eligibility guidelines can be found at tiff.net/awards. 

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