Sam Mendes, whose awards hopeful Empire Of Light from Searchlight Pictures gets its Canadian premiere at TIFF next month, will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award at the festival’s in-person gala fundraiser.
Mendes wrote, directed and produced the 1980’s-set paean to cinema that stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones and Colin Firth.
He reunites with his Skyfall cinematographer Roger Deakins, who was a TIFF Tribute Award recipient in 2019.
Mendes made his feature film debut at the festival in 1999 with the world premiere of American Beauty. The film went on to win the TIFF People’s Choice Award and a best directing Oscar for Mendes.
The Donmar Warehouse founder’s film credits include 1917, Road To Perdition, Revolutionary Road, and Spectre.
The TIFF Ebert Award, named after the late critic Roger Ebert, is an “evolution” of the festival’s Roger Ebert Golden Thumb Award. Prior recipients include Martin Scorsese, Claire Denis, Wim Wenders, Denis Villeneuve, Chloé Zhao, and the late Agnès Varda.
“From his first appearance at TIFF with American Beauty, director Sam Mendes brought his exacting and lyrical vision of cinema to Toronto,” said TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey. “We are delighted to honour his unique voice and body of work with this year’s TIFF Ebert Director Award.”
The festival recently announced the ensemble cast of My Policeman will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for performance and will unveil more honourees in the coming weeks.
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