El Hosaini’s upcoming feature 'The Swimmers' will open the Toronto International Film Festival 2022.
Egyptian-Welsh filmmaker and screenwriter Sally El Hosaini will receive the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM at the annual TIFF Tribute Awards.
Toronto International Film Festival will also honour composer Hildur Guðnadóttir with the Variety Artisan Award at this year’s Tribute Awards.
Now in its fourth year, the TIFF Tribute Awards presented by BVLGARI will return to an in-person gala fundraiser during the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, September 11 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Writer-director El Hosaini’s The Swimmers, which dramatises the true story of two sisters who left their home in war-torn Syria for a new life in Europe and the chance to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics, co-written by multi-award-winner Jack Thorne, will have its world premiere as the Opening Night Gala Presentation on September 8.
El Hosaini’s acclaimed debut feature, My Brother the Devil, premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and played at more than 40 international festivals; winning 12 awards, 17 nominations, and an honourable mention. The film won Best European Film at Berlinale, Best Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival, Best Screenplay at the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain Awards, and was nominated for Best Debut at the British Independent Film Awards.
An alumna of the Sundance Institute’s Screenwriters and Directors Labs, El Hosaini has been profiled by The Guardian; BBC America; Variety, who featured her as one of their “Brits to Watch”; and IndieWire, who named her one of their “10 Most Exciting Young Female Directors in the World Today.”
El Hosaini is represented in the UK by Sayle Screen and in the United States by CAA and Anonymous Content.
Guðnadóttir composed the score for Sarah Polley’s highly anticipated film Women Talking, an adaptation of Miriam Toews’ acclaimed novel set in 2010 rural America, where the women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling their reality with their faith, starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand. Women Talking from MGM’s Orion Pictures will have its International Premiere at the Festival on September 13 and is distributed by Universal Canada.
Speaking about the awards, Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, said: “Both Hildur Guðnadóttir and Sally El Hosaini are singular artists who continue to expand the horizons of their disciplines. We’re proud to present TIFF Tribute Awards to Guðnadóttir for her remarkable score for Sarah Polley’s Women Talking, and El Hosaini for directing one of the most urgent, moving films of the year in The Swimmers.”
The TIFF Variety Artisan Award recognises a distinguished creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment.
Variety co-editor-in-chief Ramin Setoodeh added: “Variety is honoured to be presenting Hildur Guðnadóttir with our annual Artisan Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards. We are looking forward to returning to an in-person awards programme at one of the most important festivals in the world. Highlighting Hildur’s work is a testament to Variety’s commitment to celebrating artisans.”
The TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM, is given in the spirit of Torontonian Mary Pickford, the groundbreaking actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, whose impact continues today. Previous recipients of the TIFF Emerging Talent Award include Danis Goulet in 2021; Tracey Deer in 2020; and Mati Diop in 2019.
Chris Brearton, MGM’s Chief Operation Officer, stated: “MGM is thrilled to join TIFF in honouring Sally El Hosaini with the 2022 TIFF Emerging Talent Award and championing this harrowing story.”
Guðnadóttir and El Hosaini join the recently-announced list of 2022 TIFF Tribute Award honourees, including Brendan Fraser, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by IMDbPro; Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes, who will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award; and the ensemble of My Policeman, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by Polestar.
