Amy Adams and David Cronenberg Honored at TIFF 2024 as Festival Unveils First Programming

Samantha Bergeson
·3 min read
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TIFF is almost underway!

The film festival has unveiled part of its film lineup along with the first honorees for the sixth annual Tribute Awards, taking place Sunday, September 8. Meanwhile, “Nightbitch” starring Amy Adams will have its world premiere at the festival, with Oscar-nominated actress Adams receiving the TIFF Tribute Performer Award. The festival will take place from September 5 through 15. Six titles from the gala and special presentation programs were also announced.

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Elton John documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late” will debut, along with “Harbin” starring Hyun Bin, Lee Dong-wook, Park Jeong-min, and Jeon Yeo-been. Marielle Heller’s aforementioned “Nightbitch” will be unveiled, as well as Stephen King’s “The Life of Chuck” starring Tom Hiddleston. LeBron James produces Indigenous basketball coming-of-age film “Rez Ball,” and animated film “The Wild Robot” will screen with Lupita Nyong’o voicing the titular android.

The 11-day celebration also hosts the annual Tribute Awards. This year, “The Chair” alum Sandra Oh is the inaugural Tribute Awards Honorary Chair of the fundraising gala, where “Nightbitch” star Adams and director David Cronenberg will both be honored. David Cronenberg will be recognized with the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award. The awards ceremony will be held at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

“In the five years that TIFF has been honoring such standout talent as Joaquin Phoenix, Michelle Yeoh, Jessica Chastain, Chloe Zhao, Taika Waititi, and Ari Wegner on their road to further awards success, we’ve been inspired to watch our Tribute Awards gala grow into a must-attend event,” TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey said. “This year, we’re thrilled to welcome the incomparable Sandra Oh as the inaugural honorary Chair of the 2024 Tribute Awards. She joins our first-announced honorees, Amy Adams and David Cronenberg, in what promises to be another singular, sparkling night during the Festival. We’re grateful that artists of this stature will gather in Toronto to help TIFF turn the spotlight on increasing inclusion throughout our industry.”

The Tribute Awards gala is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser. In 2024, proceeds from the awards will go towards TIFF’s Every Story Fund, which champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film.

Honorary Chair Oh said in a press statement, “Returning to TIFF feels like coming home and I’m excited to serve as Honorary Chair for this year’s Tribute Awards. Raising funds and awareness for representation and great storytelling is a passion of mine and why I’m so proud that the proceeds will go directly to Every Story Fund. Their mission to empower diverse voices aligns perfectly with my own, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this.”

The Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award, presented this year to Cronenberg, recognizes Canadians in the film industry who have made a global impact with their careers. Cronenberg’s “willingness to explore unconventional themes and his innovative storytelling continues to shape contemporary cinema worldwide,” as the festival stated.

The award was first introduced in 2023, with producer-director Shawn Levy receiving the inaugural title.

The TIFF Tribute Performer Award, a staple of the festival, will be bestowed upon Adams, who will be in attendance for Marielle Heller’s dark comedy “Nightbitch.”

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