The Toronto International Film Festival has revealed the 2026 award winners during a live press conference at TIFF Lightbox recently.
Among the top honours announced were the People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, voted on by TIFF’s public audience; the Platform Prize, the Festival’s only juried programme; two Canadian feature film awards, Short Cuts, FIPRESCI, and NETPAC awards.
In total, 12 awards were handed out, celebrating standout films and breakout talent.
In a historic first this year, winning TIFF’s Platform Prize grants a non-English-language film direct eligibility for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, alongside top winners from five other qualifying festivals.
The 2026 TIFF presented 294 films from 72 countries, welcoming over 800 talent across 98 red carpets. The Festival hosted 2,000 accredited media, close to 7,000 TIFF: The Market delegates, and 279 directors from around the world.
Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s ‘La Bola Negra’ People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers; ‘Elsinore’ won International People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers; ‘Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been’ People’s Choice Documentary Award presented by Rogers; ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney’ won People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award presented by Rogers; Theja Rio’s ‘Angh’ won Platform Prize; ‘Brace Your Heart’ won Special Jury Award; ‘Sunburn’ won Best Canadian Feature Film Award and a $10,000 CAD cash prize; while ‘Smudge the Blades’ won the award for Best Canadian Discovery Award.