The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) celebrated some of the most talented figures in film and entertainment at this year’s Tribute Awards. The star-studded event, held annually at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, serves as both a gala dinner fundraiser for TIFF’s philanthropic efforts and a potential precursor for future award-season contenders.
Among the evening’s honorees were acclaimed actors Angelina Jolie and Jharrel Jerome, alongside directing legends David Cronenberg and Mike Leigh. Presenters included Julie Delpy, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Franklin Leonard and Sandra Oh (who served as honorary chair for this year’s edition).
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Here are some of the highlights of the evening.
Jolie, an Oscar-winning actress and director known for films such as “Unbroken” and “First They Killed My Father,” received her tribute early in the evening. Her latest film “Without Blood” premiered at the festival Sunday night. Yet, hours before the ceremony, media outlets were informed that Jolie’s team had requested no photography or videography of her speech.
A message from TIFF programmers read: “Angelina Jolie’s team has requested that there be no photography or videography of Angelina during the Tribute Awards. This includes all photography and videography by TIFF, our sponsors, our partners and our guests. Please let your teams know that to accommodate this, there will be a dip in the live feed during the presentation of the Impact Award.”
The unusual request, particularly for a speech that did not appear to be politically charged or controversial, sparked curiosity. Why would an actress of Jolie’s stature — known for her advocacy and currently taking on the award circuit to promote her acclaimed turn in Pablo Larraín’s “Maria” — request such privacy at a public event?
On a lighter note, Cate Blanchett, another award recipient, brought levity to the evening after being presented her honors by “The Wild Robot” star Lupita Nyong’o. The Emmy and Oscar-winning actress, honored for her work in Apple’s “Disclaimer” helmed by auteur Alfonso Cuarón and also starring in Guy Maddin’s dystopic comedy “Rumours,” delivered one of the night’s most memorable lines while accepting her Impact Award, sponsored by Knix, an underwear company.
“I’m not actually wearing any underwear,” Blanchett quipped, to the delight of the audience. “As Michelle Obama says, when I go low, you go high.” Blanchett’s humor added a playful tone to the typically formal evening, reminiscent of her speech at the Palm Springs gala, where she jokingly revealed Jamie Lee Curtis had flashed her en route to the event.
Six-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams also made an emotional appearance. Honored with a tribute presented by her “Arrival” director Denis Villeneuve, the star of Marielle Heller’s “Nightbitch” fought back tears while thanking her family and her tight-knit circle of friends and colleagues.
“I’m really honored to be here tonight among the activists, the artists, and the visionaries who have inspired me both on-screen and off. I’m not going to say how long, but it’s been a long time,” Adams said, visibly moved.
Viggo Mortensen, who has collaborated frequently with David Cronenberg, took the stage to remind the audience of a glaring omission by the Academy Awards. Despite Cronenberg’s long and influential career, the director of “A History of Violence” and “The Fly” has never been nominated for an Oscar. Could Bill Kramer, the Academy CEO who is was in attendance, relay the message to the Directors Branch?
Cronenberg, attending TIFF for the North American premiere of his film “The Shrouds,” which debuted at Cannes, reminded the audience (with a smile), that he’s getting old: “I’m exactly the same age as Joe Biden.”
The evening also featured a musical moment courtesy of French songwriting duo Camille Dalmais and Clément Ducol, who were honored with the TIFF Artisan Award for their work on Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez.”
Presented by the film’s stars Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez in a touching tribute, Ducol dedicated his award to his late father, also a composer. The duo then treated the audience to a brief performance, which, though a bit uneven, was a sweet and heartfelt gesture.
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