Babajide FADOJU
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced its final group of honourees for the 2025 Tribute Awards, with British-Sierra Leonean actor Idris Elba among the recipients. The awards, regarded as one of the Festival’s most prestigious events, celebrate global contributions to cinema and serve as TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser.
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF and a Canadian of Barbadian heritage, said this year’s honourees reflect the global power of storytelling. “Hailing from different corners of the world, Idris Elba, Kazu Hiro, Nina Hoss, Zacharias Kunuk, Catherine O’Hara, Jafar Panahi, and Channing Tatum have created work that moves us, challenges us, and expands our understanding of the human experience,” he noted.
Elba, whose African roots and influence are widely celebrated across the continent, will receive the TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media. The honour recognises his efforts in using film and media to drive social change, especially through his Elba Hope Foundation, which supports youth empowerment in Africa, the UK, and the United States. He will also premiere his directorial debut short film Dust to Dreams at the Festival. Elba joins a list of past recipients including Angelina Jolie and Mira Nair.
Other honourees include Japanese-born prosthetic makeup artist Kazu Hiro, who will receive the TIFF Variety Artisan Award, while German actor Nina Hoss and American star Channing Tatum will both be honoured with TIFF Tribute Performer Awards. Iranian director Jafar Panahi and Inuk filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk will receive Special Tribute Awards for their unique contributions to world cinema. Canadian screen icon Catherine O’Hara, best known internationally for her role in Schitt’s Creek, will receive the TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award.
This year’s honourees will be celebrated alongside previously announced recipients, including Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, American actor Jodie Foster, Japanese director HIKARI, and South Korean actor Lee Byung Hun.
The 2025 Tribute Awards gala, in partnership with Rolex, will take place on September 7 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Toronto. Actor Brendan Fraser will serve as Honorary Chair.
The Toronto International Film Festival, now in its 50th year, will run from September 4 to 14.
For Africa, Elba’s recognition is another reminder of the continent’s growing influence in world cinema. While born in London, his career choices and advocacy work remain closely tied to African identity and culture, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers across the continent to see cinema as both art and a tool for social change.