The Toronto International Film Festival has no shortage of star power, but the TIFF Tribute Awards have quickly become one of its most anticipated evenings. Held September 13 at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel, the eighth annual gala brought together an impressive collection of actors, filmmakers and craftspeople while raising funds for TIFF’s year-round initiatives.
See also: Rolex and the Academy put the next generation of filmmakers in the spotlight at TIFF
Celebrating cinema’s finest
This year’s honourees represented both established icons and emerging voices. Penélope Cruz and Fan Bingbing received TIFF Special Tribute Awards, while French screen legend Isabelle Huppert and Slow Horses star Rosalind Eleazar were recognized with TIFF Tribute Performer Awards.
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Behind the camera, South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong received the TIFF Ebert Director Award, while CODA filmmaker Siân Heder was honoured with the TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media. Cinematographer Adam Pietkiewicz took home the TIFF Variety Artisan Award, and filmmaker Bassam Tariq received the TIFF Rising Talent Award.
Canadian favourite Seth Rogen was presented with the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award, recognizing a career that has taken him from Freaks and Geeks and Superbad to his Emmy-winning series The Studio. Helen Mirren received the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, honouring women who have made a significant impact on the entertainment industry.
Rolex and the art of film
Adding another layer of prestige to the evening was Rolex, which partnered with TIFF for the Tribute Awards. The Swiss watchmaker became the exclusive Presenting Partner of the awards in 2025, building on its longstanding relationship with cinema. Rolex’s involvement extends well beyond Toronto. Through its Perpetual Arts Initiative, the brand supports institutions including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, The Film Foundation, Film at Lincoln Center and the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program.
For an evening dedicated to artists whose work can endure for generations, the partnership feels particularly fitting: a celebration not simply of celebrity, but of craftsmanship, creative longevity and cinema’s lasting cultural impact.
Feature image courtesy George Pimentel / Toronto International Film Festival.
