The Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Film is an annual juried film award, presented by the Toronto International Film Festival to a film judged to be the best Canadian feature film.[1]
As with TIFF's other juried awards, the jury has the discretion to name one or more honorable mentions in addition to the overall winner, but are normally expected to name a single winner. On only one occasion to date, in 1997, were two full winners of the award named in the same year.
From 2020 to 2022, the award was presented as one of three Amplify Voices awards rather than as a standalone category. The Amplify Voices awards are presented to three films overall, with one award open to all feature films made by Canadian directors and designated as the Amplify Voices Award for Best Canadian Film, while the other two awards are open to any feature films, regardless of nationality, directed by BIPOC filmmakers; however, all three awards are selected and presented by the same jury. In 2023, this ceased and the award reverted to being presented separately from the Amplify Voices awards, although the same jury remained in charge of presenting both awards.
In 2024, concurrently with the reintroduction of the Best Canadian Discovery Award, TIFF announced a slight change to the award rules, whereby it will now only be open to films which are their filmmakers' third or later titles, while first or second films will be eligible only for the Discovery award.[2]
^Jay Scott, "Official Story voted most popular film; No Surrender, American Cousin critics' choices". The Globe and Mail, September 16, 1985.
^"Quebec film Le declin tops in T.O.; Arcands sex comedy wows public and jury". Montreal Gazette, September 15, 1986.
^Jay Scott, "No attendance figures released; Critics laud Zoo as best film". The Globe and Mail, September 21, 1987.
^"Spanish film is most popular at Toronto fest". Montreal Gazette, September 20, 1988.
^Sid Adilman, "Toronto director surprise winner of $25,000 film prize". Toronto Star, September 18, 1989.
^Jay Scott, "Director 'shocked' to win $25,000 prize; H was 'totally unanimous' choice as best Canadian feature". The Globe and Mail, September 17, 1990.
^Mark Bastien, "Film festival winner gives $25,000 away". Montreal Gazette, September 16, 1991.
^Jane Stevenson, "Dark drama cops top honors". Windsor Star, September 21, 1992.
^Craig MacInnis, "$25,000 Toronto-City prize goes to native filmmaker". Toronto Star, September 20, 1993.
^"Once again, Egoyan win means double happiness for directors". Vancouver Sun, September 19, 1994.
^Peter Howell, "Life's beautiful for Benigni". Toronto Star, September 21, 1998.
^Liam Lacey, "Five Senses tops jury list at Toronto Film Festival: Canadian audience gazes favourably on American Beauty at award brunch capping off star-studded year". The Globe and Mail, September 20, 1999.