Toronto/CMEDIA: Launched in 1978, the TIFF People’s Choice Award, presented by Rogers, celebrates the Festival’s top title as chosen by Toronto’s famously passionate and discerning public audience.
The honour now spans four categories: overall, International, Documentary, and Midnight Madness.
People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers:
La Bola Negra, dirs. Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi
First runner-up: I Play Rocky, dir. Peter Farrelly
Second runner-up: Being Heumann, dir. Siân Heder
International People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers:
Elsinore, dir. Simon Stone
First runner-up: Possible Love, dir. Lee Chang-dong
Second runner-up: The Assassin(s), dir. Hur Jin-ho
People’s Choice Documentary Award presented by Rogers:
Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been, dir. Barry Avrich
First runner-up: Black Sunflowers, dir. James Marcus Haney
Second runner-up: The Ultra Runner, dir. Mila Aung-Thwin
People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award presented by Rogers:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney, dir. Matthew Rankin
First runner-up: The Spiral, dir. Paolo Strippoli
Second runner-up: Arrested Memory, dir. SABU
Launched in 2015 and inspired by Jia Zhang-ke’s groundbreaking film, TIFF’s Platform Prize honours filmmakers with strong directorial vision and distinctive storytelling. All films in the programme are eligible for the prize.
TIFF’s Platform Prize is one of only six international festival awards with a direct pathway to the Oscars. Building on this newly established status, the 2026 Platform programme expanded to 12 films, with an international five-member jury selecting the winner of the $20,000 CAD prize. This year’s jury was led by President Pablo Trapero, alongside Amma Asante, Sylvia Chang, Luc Déry, and Albert Lee.
Platform Prize: Angh, dir. Theja Rio | India
Special Jury Award:
Brace Your Heart (Garrat Du Váimmu)
dir. Amanda Kernell | Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Bulgaria
SHORT CUTS AWARDS
Short Cuts Awards are presented to the Best International Short Film, Best Canadian Short Film, and Best Animated Short Film, as awarded by the Short Cuts jury. Each of the three winning films will receive a bursary of $10,000 CAD. The 2026 jurors for the Short Cuts Awards are Joecar Hanna, Chris Lavis, and Iris Ng.
Short Cuts Award for Best International Short Film: MAMMALIA, dir. Elia Kalogianni | Greece, Netherlands
Honourable Mention: The Spectacular Death of Prisca, dir. Kaelo Iyizoba | Nigeria
Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Short Film: Fight Kid, dir. Michael Del Monte | Canada
Honourable Mention: Almost Pink, dir. Justine Prince | Canada
Short Cuts Award for Best Animated Short Film: Into The Betaverse, dirs. Varun Raman, Tom Hancock | United Kingdom
Honourable Mention: Terminal, dir. Alexandre Siqueira | Portugal, Spain, France
FIPRESCI PRIZE
The FIPRESCI jury awards the International Critics’ Prize, dedicated to emerging filmmakers, to a debut feature film having its World Premiere in TIFF’s Discovery programme. The 2026 FIPRESCI jury members are Pragya Mishra, Cătălin Olaru, Savina Petkova (PhD), Enoe Lopes Pontes (PhD), and Victor Stiff.
FIPRESCI Prize:
Ancestors, dir. David Turpin | Ireland, United Kingdom
NETPAC AWARD
Presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema, the NETPAC Award recognizes films from the Asian and Pacific regions. The jury consists of three international community members selected by TIFF and NETPAC, who award the prize to the best Asian film by a first or second-time feature director. The 2026 NETPAC jury was led by Jury Chairperson Mara Matta, alongside Richard Fung and Panagiotis Kotzathanasis.
NETPAC Award:
Thirteen in Gaza, dir. Hosam Abu Dan | Palestine
BEST CANADIAN DISCOVERY AWARD
The Best Canadian Discovery Award celebrates the next generation of filmmakers shaping its future. The award recognizes emerging talent whose first or second feature brings a distinctive voice to the Canadian film landscape. All Canadian first or second feature films in Official Selection are eligible. The winner receives a cash prize of $10,000 CAD. The 2026 Best Canadian Discovery Award Jury members are Zarrar Kahn, Justine Pimlott, and Sophy Romvari.
Best Canadian Discovery Award: Smudge the Blades, dir. Cody Lightning | Canada
Honourable Mention: The Black Box is Orange, dir. Yuula Benivolski | Canada
BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM AWARD
The Best Canadian Feature Film Award honours the unique craft and storytelling in Canadian cinema. All Canadian feature films in Official Selection — excluding first or second features — are considered for the award. The winning filmmaker will receive a $10,000 CAD cash prize. The 2026 Best Canadian Feature Film Award jury members are Hubert Davis, Deepa Mehta, and Christina Rogers.
Best Canadian Feature Film Award: Sunburn, dir. Serville Poblete | Canada
Honourable Mention: Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story, dir. Adrian Buitenhuis | Canada
Awards descriptions including eligibility can be found at tiff.net/awards. Information on the People’s Choice Award voting process can be found at tiff.net/vote.
