The first round of TIFF Tribute Awards are being bestowed this year to The Invite actress Penélope Cruz, filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, Misty Green actress Rosalind Eleazar, CODA Oscar-winning filmmaker Siân Heder, and French actress Isabelle Huppert.

Cruz has two titles at this year’s fest —La Bola Negra and Florian Zeller’s Bunker–and she’ll be receiving the TIFF Special Tribute Award presented by CHANEL. The Special Tribute Award recognizes an individual who has made an extraordinary and unique contribution to the world of film, leaving a lasting legacy through their dedication and artistry. Previous recipients include Lee Byung Hun, Zacharias Kunuk, and Jafar Panahi (2025), Zhao Tao (2024), Andy Lau (2023), Dionne Warwick (2021), and David Foster (2019). Cruz took home a 2009 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Cruz’s upcoming projects include director Isabel Coixet’s adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s The Days of Abandonment,the thriller Day Drinker and Nancy Meyers’ untitled theatrical Christmas 2027 release.

Lee Chang-dong will be honored with the TIFF Ebert Director Award presented by the Tory Family. He returns to TIFF with the Special Presentations premiere of Netflix’s Possible Love, a tale of relationships plus generational and class divides. His feature canon includes Peppermint Candy (1999), Oasis (TIFF ’02), which won the Silver Lion at Venice, Secret Sunshine (TIFF ’07), and Burning (TIFF ’18), which was shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. Past recipients of the Ebert Director Award include Guillermo del Toro (2025), Mike Leigh (2024), Spike Lee (2023), Sam Mendes (2022), Denis Villeneuve (2021), and Chloé Zhao (2020).

Eleazar and Huppert will be presented with TIFF Tribute Performer Awards; while Heder will receive the TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media, presented by Anne-Marie Canning.

The TIFF Tribute Performer Award recognizes an overall body of work. Past recipients are Nina Hoss and Channing Tatum (2025), Amy Adams and Jharrel Jerome (2024), Colman Domingo and Vicky Krieps (2023), Brendan Fraser and the ensemble cast of My Policeman (2022), Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch (2021), Kate Winslet and Sir Anthony Hopkins (2020), plus Meryl Streep and Joaquin Phoenix (2019).

Eleazar arrives at TIFF this year in Chris Rock’s Misty Green. She was previously at the fest with the world premiere of The Personal History of David Copperfield (TIFF ’19). She also starred on Apple TV’s Slow Horses (2022–2025). On stage, Eleazar most recently appeared opposite Ralph Fiennes in Small Hotel as part of the Theatre Royal Bath season.

Huppert’s career spans over 100 movies and she comes to TIFF this year with the Gala Presentation of Marc Fitoussi’s All About Corinne in which she plays a background actor who spots a belated chance to break into the fickle family of le cinéma français. She was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for 2017’s Elle.

Heder has TIFF’s opening night movie this year, the world premiere of Apple Original Films’ Being Heumann. Previous TIFF Tribute Award in Impact Media honorees include Idris Elba, Angelina Jolie, Pedro Almodóvar, Mira Nair, and Alanis Obomsawin. The honor recognizes leadership in creating a union between social impact and cinema. Heder won Best Adapted Screenplay for CODA at the 2022 Oscars, which was one of three won including Best Pictures and Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur.

“Now in its eighth year, the TIFF Tribute Awards celebrates some of cinema’s most exciting artists at an event dedicated to the transformative power of film,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “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.”

The TIFF Tribute Awards will take place on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The Tribute Awards gala is the festival’s largest annual fundraiser.

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