Michelle Yeoh is getting all the prizes, trophies, and accolades — and it’s about goddam time. The queen has been doing the thing since she has graced the world with her presence on the big screen. In particular, she slayed and continues to impress audiences in Daniels’ multiverse family dramedy Everything Everywhere All At Once — and the Toronto International Film Festival continues to honor the legend with the inaugural TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award.
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 September 11 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
“Michelle Yeoh is the definition of groundbreaking,” said Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO. “Her screen work has spanned continents, genres and decades. This year she delivered a performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once that shows her limitless abilities. We’re so proud to honour her with the Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award.”
The TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award is presented by BVLGARI and recognizes a woman who is a leader in the film industry and has made a positive impact for women throughout their career. The inaugural award is inspired by TIFF’s Share Her Journey initiative, which was created to address gender parity in the film industry, to champion women at every stage of their creative journey, and to shine a spotlight on women creators making a significant difference in the industry.
Spanning a nearly 40-year career, Yeoh is one of the most accomplished and versatile actors in the world. She has broken barriers and inspired generations of audiences with her performances, including the aforementioned Everything Everywhere All at Once, as well as other iconic films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Crazy Rich Asians — everything she touches turns to gold. Her range is also showcased in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as well as Star Trek: Discovery. She will also appear in the upcoming The Brothers Sun on Netflix and American Born Chinese on Disney+.
Yeoh joins the recently announced list of 2022 TIFF Tribute Award honorees, including Oscar-winning Icelandic artist and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir, who will receive the TIFF Variety Artisan Award; Award-winning Welsh Egyptian filmmaker and screenwriter Sally El Hosaini, who will be honor with the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM, acclaimed actor Brendan Fraser, recipient of the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance presented by IMDbPro; Oscar-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes, who will be honored with the TIFF Ebert Director Award; and the ensemble of My Policeman, who will receive the TIFF Tribute Award for Performance.
The TIFF Tribute Awards have served as an awards-season bellwether, with past honourees such as Jessica Chastain, Roger Deakins, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Taika Waititi, and Chloé Zhao going on to win awards on the international stage. The TIFF Tribute Awards honour the film industry’s outstanding contributors and their achievements, recognizing leading industry members, acting talent, directorial expertise, new talent, and a below-the-line artist and creator. The Awards event also serves as TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser to support TIFF’s Every Story fund, which promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in film and TIFF’s core mission to transform the way people see the world through film.
