Toronto, Canada — The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced its award categories, jury members, and prizes for 2025, aimed at recognizing outstanding cinematic achievements. Distinguished film critics and directors will form the juries that evaluate films for prestigious accolades, including the Best Canadian Feature Film Award and the FIPRESCI Prize, presented by the International Federation of Film Critics. All awards will be presented in person during a ceremony on September 14, with a livestream option available for audiences at home.
Running from September 4-14, 2025, the festival will celebrate its 50th edition, an important milestone for TIFF. The awards ceremony will take place at TIFF Lightbox at 10 a.m. ET on the final day of the festival.
Among the notable categories is the Best Canadian Discovery Award, which recognizes first or second feature films from emerging Canadian filmmakers. This award comes with a cash prize of $10,000. Last year, Matthew Rankin’s “Universal Language” received this honor. In contrast, the Best Canadian Feature Film Award seeks to highlight the unique storytelling and craftsmanship in established Canadian cinema, excluding first or second features also with a $10,000 cash prize. The previous winner was Sophie Deraspe’s “Shepherds.”
The jury for the Best Canadian Feature Film and Best Canadian Discovery Awards will include influential figures such as Jennifer Baichwal, a prominent documentary filmmaker known for her acclaimed works like “Manufactured Landscapes,” and Sophie Jarvis, recognized for her debut feature “Until Branches Bend.” R.T. Thorne, an accomplished director and writer, will also serve as a juror, bringing experience from his critically acclaimed feature “40 Acres.”
The FIPRESCI Prize will be awarded by an international jury composed of film critics. This prize aims to encourage new talent in filmmaking by honoring a debut feature film that premieres at TIFF’s Discovery programme. The jury includes notable critics such as Katharina Dockhorn from Germany, Francisco Ferreira from Portugal, and Jean-Philippe Guerand from France.
Additionally, the NETPAC Award will recognize outstanding films from the Asian and Pacific regions, highlighting works by first or second-time feature directors. The jury for this award includes Dina Iordanova, a professor specializing in global cinema, and filmmaker Helen Lee, whose films have been featured at TIFF. Keoprasith Souvannavong, a French journalist born in Laos, will chair the jury.
This tradition of recognizing audience favorites continues with the long-established People’s Choice Awards, marking their 48th year. These awards have also historically been precursors to Oscar nominations, with past winners like “Slumdog Millionaire” and “American Fiction.” The awards are decided through audience votes, featuring categories such as the People’s Choice Award and the new International People’s Choice Award.
TIFF’s 2025 juries for the Platform competitive program and Short Cuts have also been announced, adding to the festival’s range of honors. The platform jury will be led by Carlos Marqués-Marcet, alongside Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Chloé Robichaud. The Short Cuts jurors will assess new awards for animated and short films, aiming to highlight the best in these formats.
The 50th Toronto International Film Festival promises to be a significant celebration of film, innovation, and artistic expression, uniting filmmakers and audiences in a shared appreciation for the art of cinema.
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