Penélope Cruz, Isabelle Huppert, Lee Chang-dong Among First TIFF Tribute Awards Honorees

Penélope Cruz, Lee Chang-dong, Rosalind Eleazar, Siân Heder and Isabelle Huppert are the first honorees announced for the eighth annual TIFF Tribute Awards, the gala set for Sept. 13 during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Cruz, who won the supporting actress Oscar for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” will receive the TIFF Special Tribute Award. Eleazar and Huppert will each be honored with the TIFF Tribute Performer Award, while Lee will take the TIFF Ebert Director Award. Heder, whose “Being Heumann” is this year’s opening night selection, will receive the TIFF Tribute Award in impact media.

“Now in its eighth year, the TIFF Tribute Awards celebrate some of cinema’s most exciting artists at an event dedicated to the transformative power of film,” says Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF. “From the captivating performances of Isabelle Huppert, Penélope Cruz and Rosalind Eleazar to Lee Chang-dong and Siân Heder’s vital filmmaking, each has shown a profound impact on screen storytelling. It’s our privilege to recognize their achievements as we gather to celebrate another exceptional year in film and rally support for TIFF’s ongoing work.”

Cruz arrives in Toronto with two titles including the Spanish-language drama “La Bola Negra” which premiered at Cannes, where directors Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi won best director. She also stars opposite Oscar winner Javier Bardem in “Bunker,” from writer-director Florian Zeller, the Oscar-winning scribe of “The Father” (2020).

Lee returns to the festival with the Special Presentations premiere of “Possible Love,” his first feature since “Burning” in 2018. Eleazar, the breakout of Apple TV’s “Slow Horses,” appears in “Misty Green,” which Chris Rock wrote and directed. Huppert, whose career spans more than 100 films, reunites with director Marc Fitoussi, who guided her through “Paris Follies” in 2014, for the comedy “All About Corinne,” a gala presentation.

Heder makes her festival debut with the world premiere of “Being Heumann,” her follow-up to “CODA,” which won best picture at the 2022 Academy Awards and earned her the adapted screenplay Oscar.

The Tribute Awards is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser, with proceeds supporting expanded access to cinema, artist development and industry initiatives.

The 51st Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 10-20. The fest has long served as a launchpad for Oscar-winning fare, particularly through the People’s Choice Award, whose past winners include “Chariots of Fire” (1981), “American Beauty” (1999), “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) and “Green Book” (2018).