The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is preparing for its fiftieth edition by announcing the first group of honorees for its annual Tribute Awards. This year’s ceremony will celebrate outstanding contributions to cinema, serving as a prelude to the upcoming awards season. Among the recipients are Japanese writer and director Hikari, who will receive the TIFF Emerging Talent Award, and South Korean actor Lee Byung Hun, who has been awarded the TIFF Special Tribute Award.
Hikari: A New Voice in International Filmmaking
Hikari, known for her directorial work on the drama 37 Seconds and episodes of the series Beef and Tokyo Vice, is being recognized for her distinctive artistic vision. She will attend the festival for the world premiere of her second feature film, Rental Family, which stars Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser. The film, a comedy-drama, is set to be released in North America by Searchlight Pictures in November. The award, which HIKARI will receive, celebrates groundbreaking filmmakers whose work is poised to make a significant impact on the industry.
Lee Byung Hun: A Career of Global Reach
Lee Byung Hun is an acclaimed actor whose career spans over three decades and includes massive success in both South Korean and Hollywood productions. He starred in celebrated films like Joint Security Area and Masquerade, and achieved global recognition in the Netflix series Squid Game. His Hollywood credits include G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra and its sequel, as well as Red 2 and Terminator Genisys. Lee will be at TIFF this year for the North American gala premiere of Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, marking his second collaboration with the director.
A Celebration of Cinematic Excellence
Cameron Bailey, TIFF’s CEO, expressed his delight in announcing this year’s honorees. “We’re thrilled to announce this year’s recipients, each of whom has left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape: from the commanding talent of Lee Byung Hun; the visionary imagination of maestro Guillermo del Toro; the evocative storytelling of HIKARI; to the incomparable career of actor, filmmaker, and icon Jodie Foster,” Bailey stated. “We’re honoured to welcome these exceptional artists to Toronto for the seventh annual Tribute Awards.”
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The Tribute Awards will also honor Guillermo del Toro with the TIFF Ebert Director Award and Jodie Foster with the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award. Brendan Fraser, a recipient of the Tribute Performer Award in 2022, will return to the event as the 2025 Honorary Chair. The gala, which is the festival’s largest annual fundraiser, will take place on Sunday, September 7, with proceeds supporting TIFF’s 50th anniversary campaign.
The 50th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival will run from September 4–14.
