Toronto — Earlier this evening as part of TIFF’s opening ceremony for Canada’s Top Ten, Miryam Charles was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Charles Officer Legacy Award, presented by TIFF and CBC. This award recognizes a Canadian Black director and/or writer whose body of work exemplifies the award-winning filmmaker’s creative excellence, strong point of view, and community-mindedness. Miryam Charles first feature film, Cette maison, was a Canada’s Top Ten selection in 2022, premiered at the Berlinale, and was named one of the best films of that year by Sight and Sound.
Jury statement: “The nominees for the award’s inaugural year were overwhelmingly strong and acknowledged Black creators of all experience levels from across the country. As a committee, we are thrilled to select Miryam Charles of Montreal for the 2025 Charles Officer Legacy Award. Miryam is a person whose vision, creativity, and commitment to storytelling truly embody the spirit of the award. Her work is extremely bold in its artistic vision, and she leads with a curiosity that pushes a unique style and form in a way that echoes what Charles sought to do on his own. Through her unique and powerful voice, Miryam tells stories that are both deeply personal and universally relatable and have an underlying dedication to strengthening her community. Her colleagues praise her commitment to the mentorship of those on her productions and the authenticity with which she engages her community. We’re proud to celebrate Miryam, and know Charles would have jumped at the opportunity for them to connect and learn from each other.”
Jury members: Kish Iqbal, co-owner, Gary Godard Agency; Anita Lee, Chief Programming Officer, TIFF; Lea Marin, Director of Development, Drama, CBC; and Jake Yanowski, producer.
Miryam Charles will receive $25,000 CAD, a TIFF Industry Membership for one year, and an Industry pass to the 2025 Festival.
About Miryam Charles:
Miryam Charles is a Canadian director, producer, and cinematographer of Haitian origin, based in Montreal. In addition to Cette maison (TIFF ’22), her short films including All the Days of May (TIFF ’23) and Second Generation (TIFF ’19) have been showcased in various festivals worldwide. She is currently working on her next feature.
X: @TIFF_NET & @TIFF_Industry
Instagram, TikTok & Letterboxd: @tiff_net
YouTube: @TIFF
Pinterest: @tiffnet
About TIFF:
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF initiatives include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, learning, and entertainment facilities; the innovative national distribution program Film Circuit, and the TIFF Content Market launching in 2026. The organization generates an estimated annual economic impact of $240 million CAD. TIFF Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including 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.
About CBC/Radio-Canada:
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten, and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs, and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French, and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi, and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
TIFF is generously supported by Major Partners RBC and Visa and Major Supporters the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Toronto.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
TIFF: Netta Rondinelli, nrondinelli@tiff.net
CBC: Tanya Koivusalo, tanya.koivusalo@cbc.ca
