As Canada embraces the beauty of autumn and steps into the chilly onset of winter, the city of Toronto once again witnessed the curtain fall on the ‘festival of festivals.’ Over 250 films, representing 70 countries, captivated an audience of nearly 350,000 across 25 venues over the course of 11 days. Filmmakers, directors, and actors from prominent films graced the red carpet at four different venues, shining in the silver spotlight as adoring fans braved the cold and heat for hours just to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars. During the first four days, the bustling King Street West in downtown Toronto transformed into a pedestrian-only pathway, as locals and international guests alike filled the city’s hotel rooms.
When the 11-day cinematic extravaganza drew to a close, film enthusiasts left with a list of must-watch movies etched in their minds. Despite seeing four or five films a day, no one could hope to catch all the favorites! One of the unique aspects of TIFF is that many of its selections go on to receive Oscar nominations, with several winning top awards.
The highlight of TIFF 2024 was the People’s Choice Award, chosen by the audience, which went to Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck. The second place was awarded to Emilia Perez by Jacques Audiard, and Anora by Sean Baker came in third.
In the Midnight Madness category, the crowd favorite was The Substance by Coralie Fargeat, followed by the Taiwanese film Dead Talents Society by John Hsu in second place, and the American film Friendship by Andrew DeYoung in third.
In the documentary section, the top audience pick was The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal by Mike Downie. Second and third places were awarded to Will & Harper by Josh Greenbaum and Your Tomorrow by Ali Weinstein, respectively.
The FIPRESCI Prize, awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics for Best Debut Feature, went to Somali filmmaker K’naan Warsame for Mother Mother. The jury praised the film for delivering a message of humanity in a region rife with violence and turmoil. The esteemed jury members included Li Cheuk-to, Pierre-Simon Gutman, Azadeh Jafari, Saffron Maeve, and Wilfred Okiche.
The NETPAC Award for Best Asian-Pacific Film was presented to The Last of the Sea Women, directed by Sue Kim. The film tells the story of a group of elderly female divers on South Korea’s Jeju Island, shedding light on their fight against global warming and ocean pollution. The jury, comprising Hannah Fisher, Dr. Vilsoni Hereniko, and Kerri Sakamoto, noted the film’s call for empathy towards this marginalized group.
Matthew Rankin’s Universal Language was awarded Best Canadian Debut Feature, while You Are Not Alone by Marie Helen Viens and Philippe Lupien received a Special Mention in this category.
The Canada Goose Award for Best Feature Film went to Shepherds by Sophie Deraspe.
In the Platform section, They Will Be Dust, a Spanish film directed by Carlos Marques-Marcet, was named Best Film, with Daughter’s Daughter by Taiwanese director Huang Xi earning a Special Mention.
Several short films also received awards during the festival.
It is worth noting that none of the entries from India received any awards this year.
As the curtain falls on this 11-day visual extravaganza, preparations for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Toronto International Film Festival are already underway. The next festival is set to take place from September 4 to 14, 2025.
Suresh Nellikode is a film critic
