Joana Vicente andCameron Bailey, Co-Heads of TIFF, today announced that three-time AcademyAward–nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix will be honoured with one of two TIFFTribute Actor Awards at this year’s TIFF Tribute Gala awards event. Takingplace on Monday, September 9 at Fairmont Royal York, during the 44th TorontoInternational Film Festival, the Gala is an annual fundraiser to support TIFF’syear-round programmes and core mission to transform the way people see theworld through film, and to celebrate the film industry’s outstandingcontributors.
With a wide-rangingcareer spanning over 35 years, Phoenix has starred in such films as The Master,Inherent Vice, Walk the Line, Gladiator, To Die For, and Her. He has beennominated for three Academy Awards for his roles as Commodus in Gladiator,Freddie Quell in The Master and Johnny Cash in Walk the Line, for which he wona Golden Globe. This fall, Phoenix portrays the title character in ToddPhillips’ Joker, a standalone origin story that will have its North AmericanPremiere at TIFF.
“Displaying both rawinstinct and consummate technical skill, Joaquin Phoenix is the complete actor,and one of the finest in contemporary cinema,” said Bailey. “Over threedecades, he has brought a piercing truth to each groundbreaking role. TIFF isthrilled to be celebrating an artist of his calibre with this inaugural award.We can’t wait for Festival audiences to experience his electric turn in Joker.”
“We’re thrilled that theextraordinarily talented Joaquin Phoenix will be honoured at the TIFF TributeGala this September,” said Vicente. “His outstanding contribution to cinemaacts as a testament to TIFF’s core mission to transform the way people see theworld through film.”
Director Todd Phillips’Joker centres on the iconic arch-nemesis and is an original, fictional storynot seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, whois indelibly portrayed by Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way inGotham’s fractured society.
TIFF previouslyannounced that Meryl Streep will receive the other TIFF Tribute Actor Award,sponsored by RBC. Taika Waititi will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, andParticipant Media will receive the TIFF Impact Award, accepted by Founder andChairman Jeff Skoll and CEO David Linde. In addition, there will be a specialtribute to multi-hyphenate musician David Foster. The Mary Pickford Award,presented by MGM and honouring a female emerging talent in the industry incelebration of United Artists’ 100th anniversary, will be given to a recipientto be announced shortly.
The 44th TorontoInternational Film Festival runs September 5–15, 2019.
