FIPRESCI and NETPAC Juries Select TIFF 2020 Award Winners

The Toronto International Film Festival, alongside the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema (NETPAC), announced award winners for work screened at TIFF 2020.

“This year’s Official Selection had a truly stellar collection of international films,” said Diana Sanchez, Senior Director of Film at TIFF. “During such a unique year, TIFF is so grateful to global film criticism and appreciation bodies like NETPAC and FIPRESCI for continuing to recognize the work of talented filmmakers.”

FIPRESCI PRIZE

This year’s FIPRESCI jury members include Jon Asp (Sweden), Jihane Bougrine (Morocco), and Adriana Fernández (Mexico).

The 2020 FIPRESCI prize is awarded to the film Beginning, directed by Dea Kulumbegashvili. The jury released the following statement: “The prize goes to a brave and fresh quiet storm of a film that depicts the condition of being a woman in Georgia, masterfully portrayed in a universal manner by Ia Sukhitashvili. The film’s precise dialogue is perfectly balanced by an ominous silence that creates a full sensory experience. This is an emotionally compelling debut feature by a filmmaker whose voice feels established and one to watch.”

NETPAC AWARD

The NETPAC jury, composed of Dr. Sharofat Arabova (Tajikistan), Dr. Latika Padgaonkar (India), and jury chairperson George Chun Han Wang (Hawaii), selected Tarzan Nasser and Arab Nasser’s Gaza mon amour as this year’s NETPAC Award winner. The jury selected this film “for a heartwarming, thought-provoking and poetic tale of unspoken emotions portraying daily life in Gaza.”

About TIFF

TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L’Oréal Paris, and Visa, and Major Supporters the Government of Ontario, Telefilm Canada, and the City of Toronto.