TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey is delighted to share the final honourees of this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards, presented in partnership with Rolex. Academy Award–winning legend Helen Mirren will receive the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix; acclaimed cinematographer Adam Pietkiewicz will receive the TIFF Variety Artisan Award; beloved Canadian actor, writer, director, and producer Seth Rogen will be presented with the TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award, presented by The Budman Family; and award-winning filmmaker Bassam Tariq will receive the TIFF Rising Talent Award. An additional TIFF Special Tribute Award will be presented to global superstar Fan Bingbing. Honourees will be joining previously announced recipients Penélope Cruz, Lee Chang-dong, Rosalind Eleazar, Siân Heder, and Isabelle Huppert.
“Helen Mirren and Fan Bingbing bring bold, compelling performances to this year’s Festival, building on iconic bodies of work,” said Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF. “Bassam Tariq’s “Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother” will confirm his reputation as a dazzling storyteller, and we recognize Adam Pietkiewicz for crafting never-before-seen images from one of the world’s most remote regions. And we will be forever grateful to writer, actor, director and producer Seth Rogen for sharing his wildly Canadian talents with the world.”
Taking place Sunday, September 13 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel Toronto, the eighth annual awards gala is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser with proceeds supporting TIFF’s impact initiatives, expanding access to bold world-class cinema while advancing artist development, industry leadership, community engagement, and year-round cultural impact. The evening will see industry peers, international filmmakers, and distinguished honorees gathered to celebrate cinematic excellence as awards are formally presented during an intimate ceremony, with the full list of presenters to be announced on September 9. Presented in partnership with Rolex, with support from RBC, Fairmont Royal York Hotel, and Don Julio.
Newly announced 2026 TIFF Tribute Awards honorees:
Fan Bingbing — TIFF Special Tribute Award
Fan Bingbing is an award-winning Chinese actor, producer, and international festival juror whose screen career spans three decades across Asian and global cinema. She returns to TIFF for the World Premiere Gala Presentation of Wayne Wang’s “Diary of a Mad Old Man.” Bingbing first rose to prominence in the hit television series “My Fair Princess” before establishing herself as a leading film star with roles in Feng Xiaogang’s “Cell Phone” and Li Yu’s “Lost in Beijing” and “Buddha Mountain,” the latter earning her Best Actress at the Tokyo International Film Festival, alongside a Golden Horse Award for “The Matrimony.” She achieved further critical acclaim for Feng Xiaogang’s “I Am Not Madame Bovary” (TIFF ’16), winning the Silver Shell for Best Actress at San Sebastián alongside Best Actress honors at the Golden Rooster Awards and Asian Film Awards. Her international feature credits include Kang Je-gyu’s “My Way,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” Renny Harlin’s “Skiptrace,” Simon Kinberg’s “The 355,” and Han Shuai’s “Green Night.” Most recently, Bingbing starred in Chong Keat Aun’s “Mother Bhumi,” earning the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress.
The TIFF Special Tribute Award recognizes an individual who has made an extraordinary and unique contribution to the world of film, leaving a lasting legacy through their dedication and artistry. Previous recipients include Lee Byung Hun, Zacharias Kunuk, and Jafar Panahi (2025), Zhao Tao (2024), Andy Lau (2023), Dionne Warwick (2021), and David Foster (2019).
Helen Mirren — TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix
One of the most distinguished actors, Academy Award, BAFTA, and Emmy winner Helen Mirren is celebrated for her legendary work across film, television, and theatre spanning more than five decades. Mirren returns to TIFF for the World Premiere of Anton Corbijn’s “A Talent for Murder,” starring as author Patricia Highsmith in this chamber thriller. Best known for her Oscar-winning portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen” (TIFF ’06), a role she reprised on Broadway in “The Audience” to win a Tony Award, Mirren’s extensive film credits span “The Madness of King George,” “Gosford Park” (TIFF ’01), “The Last Station” (TIFF ’09), “The Debt” (TIFF ’10), “The Leisure Seeker” (TIFF ’17), “Golda,” “Barbie,” and “The Thursday Murder Club.” On television, she starred in the groundbreaking series “Prime Suspect,” and more recently in “1923” and “MobLand.” Beyond her celebrated acting legacy, Mirren has been a dedicated advocate for women in entertainment and equal representation across creative fields. Mirren is also honoured with the SAG Life Achievement Award and the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award.
The TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is presented by Joanna Griffiths and the Women of Knix. It is inspired by TIFF’s Share Her Journey initiative, created to address gender parity in the film industry, to champion women at every stage of their creative journey, and to shine a spotlight on women creators making a significant difference. Past recipients include Jodie Foster (2025), Cate Blanchett (2024), Patricia Arquette (2023), and Michelle Yeoh (2022).
Adam Pietkiewicz — TIFF Variety Artisan Award
Polish cinematographer Adam Pietkiewicz makes his TIFF debut as the cinematographer of Theja Rio’s “Angh,” which makes its World Premiere in Platform, the Festival’s competitive program. Shot entirely on 16mm, the film follows his feature debut on Krzysztof Skonieczny’s “Wrooklyn Zoo,” for which he received a Golden Frog nomination at Camerimage 2024. Pietkiewicz’s visual sensibility was shaped by documentary and street photography before he formally studied at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Poland and the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the UK. His credits also include work as a camera operator on Netflix’s Emmy-winning series “Baby Reindeer” and the Cannes La Cinef award-winning short “Bunnyhood.”
The TIFF Variety Artisan Award recognizes a distinguished creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment. Previous recipients of this award include Kazu Hiro (2025), Clément Ducol and Camille (2024), Łukasz Żal (2023), Hildur Guðnadóttir (2022), Ari Wegner (2021), Terence Blanchard (2020), and Roger Deakins (2019).
Seth Rogen — TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award presented by The Budman Family
Seth Rogen is an Emmy-winning multi-hyphenate actor, writer, director, and producer, whose unmistakable voice has helped shape and define modern comedy. Following his breakout in “Freaks and Geeks” and a run of genre-defining hits like “Superbad,” “Knocked Up,” and “Pineapple Express,” he co-founded Point Grey Pictures in 2011, producing acclaimed works such as “Neighbors” and Apple TV’s Emmy-winning series “The Studio.” He recently starred in “The Invite” and returns to TIFF with the World Premiere Gala Presentation of Lauren Miller Rogen’s “Babies,” and serves as producer and voice actor in Leah Nelson’s animated feature “Tangles.” His past TIFF World Premieres include Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” (TIFF ’22) and Aziz Ansari’s “Good Fortune” (TIFF ’25). Rogen is also the bestselling author of “Yearbook” and leads Houseplant, the lifestyle company he co-founded with Evan Goldberg and Michael Mohr. With his wife, Lauren Miller Rogen, he co-founded Hilarity for Charity, supporting Alzheimer care and brain health education.
Introduced in 2023, the TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award presented by The Budman Family recognizes Canadians in the film industry who have made a global impact with their careers. Past recipients include Catherine O’Hara (2025), David Cronenberg (2024), and Shawn Levy (2023).
Bassam Tariq — TIFF Rising Talent Award, presented by Amazon MGM Studios
Filmmaker Bassam Tariq makes his TIFF debut with the World Premiere Special Presentation of his eagerly anticipated “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,” starring Oscar winner Mahershala Ali as a devout family man and contract killer. Beginning his career in documentary before transitioning into narrative features, Tariq has built an international reputation through deeply personal storytelling that explores faith, belonging, and human resilience. His acclaimed filmography includes the SXSW breakout “These Birds Walk,” named one of the 21st century’s best international films by The New Yorker, the Sundance Jury Prize–winning short “Ghosts of Sugar Land,” and his BAFTA-nominated narrative debut “Mogul Mowgli,” starring Riz Ahmed.
Presented by Amazon MGM Studios, this award is inspired by Torontonian Mary Pickford, the groundbreaking actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, whose impact continues today. Past recipients include HIKARI (2025), Durga Chew-Bose (2024), Carolina Markowicz (2023), Sally El Hosaini (2022), Danis Goulet (2021), Tracey Deer (2020), and Mati Diop (2019).
Previously announced:
Galas And Special Presentations Lineup
Platform Programming & Jury
Discovery
Tributes
Centerpiece
Docs
Short Cuts
Midnight Madness
Final Additions
Dan Bayer, Nadia Dalimonte, Giovanni Lago, Sara Clements, and Matt Neglia will be attending this year’s TIFF from Next Best Picture in person.
Are you excited for these announcements? What films are you most looking forward to from this year’s Toronto International Film Festival? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our X account.
