Academy Award–nominated and six-time Grammy Award–winning composer Terence Blanchard will be honored with the TIFF Variety Artisan Award at this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards during the 45th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. The award recognizes a distinguished creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment. Last year’s Variety Artisan Award was given to Academy Award–winning cinematographer Roger Deakins.
Blanchard was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for 2018’s BlacKkKlansman, directed by Spike Lee. He was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for his original music in the film, and won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition for a track from the film. His expansive work includes composing scores for Spike Lee’s Malcolm X and When the Levees Broke; Kasi Lemmons’ Eve’s Bayou, Talk to Me, and Harriet; George Lucas’ Red Tails; Tim Story’s Barbershop; and the HBO drama series Perry Mason, among many other titles. Most recently, Blanchard has composed the scores for Regina King’s feature directorial debut, One Night in Miami, which will screen at TIFF and be released by Amazon Studios; Halle Berry’s directorial debut, Bruised, which will have its World Premiere at TIFF; and Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, which was released by Netflix this summer.
“For over 25 years Terence Blanchard has composed some of the most breathtaking and moving scores in film and television,” said Joana Vicente, Co-Head of TIFF. “From his frequent work with Spike Lee on 25th Hour, BlacKkKlansman and most recently Da 5 Bloods, and Kasi Lemmons on Eve’s Bayou and last year’s Harriet, he has created musical wonders for audiences and helped to elevate every project he has been a part of. We are thrilled to be honoring him with the TIFF Variety Artisan Award and to showcase his dynamic work, including One Night in Miami and Bruised, both of which we look forward to sharing with our TIFF audiences this September.”
TIFF previously announced that Academy Award–winning actress Kate Winslet and Academy Award–winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins will receive TIFF Tribute Actor Awards; director Chloé Zhao will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award; and Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Mira Nair will be honored with the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media.
Last year the inaugural TIFF Tribute Gala celebrated the remarkable talents and contributions of Meryl Streep, Taika Waititi, Mati Diop, and Joaquin Phoenix.
The 45th Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10–19, 2020.