Earlier this evening, as part of TIFF’s opening ceremony for the 25th annual Canada’s Top Ten, Henri Pardo was announced as this year’s recipient of the Charles Officer Legacy Award, presented by TIFF and CBC. This award, now in its second year, recognizes a Canadian Black director and/or writer whose body of work exemplifies the late award-winning filmmaker’s creative excellence, strong point of view, and community-mindedness. Pardo is a Montreal-based filmmaker whose debut film Kanaval premiered at TIFF ’23 in the Centrepiece programme.
“Charles Officer understood that making films is not enough — we must also build the infrastructure for the next generation," said Pardo. “This award is a commitment to continue that work: making the films, opening the doors, and staying present for those coming after us.”
The jury stated: “Henri Pardo’s films combine craft, cultural specificity, and emotional depth while remaining visually striking and rooted in authenticity. Blending Haitian cultural narratives with contemporary techniques and magical realism, his work is perfectly balanced by his role as a mentor and leader, amplifying marginalized voices and reshaping the Canadian film industry into a more inclusive and equitable place. A founding member of both Black Wealth Media and Black on Black Films, his work is just as impactful on screen as it is to the many he holds up with his mentorship, guidance, and high professional standards. It is for these reasons and more that we are proud to award Henri Pardo the Charles Officer Legacy Award.”
This year’s jury members were CBC’s Lea Marin; CFC’s Kathryn Emslie; TIFF’s Jane Kim; and filmmaker Miryam Charles, the inaugural recipient of the Charles Officer Legacy Award.
Henri Pardo will receive $25,000 CAD, a TIFF Industry Membership for one year, and a pass to TIFF: The Market in September 2026.
About Henri Pardo
Henri Pardo is a Montreal-based filmmaker whose work centres Afro-Canadian and Haitian diasporic experiences through documentary and narrative fiction. His feature debut Kanaval (2023) premiered at TIFF, winning the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian Feature and selection to Canada’s Top Ten. His documentary Dear Jackie (2021) won the Magnus Isacsson Award at RIDM and earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination.
Born in New Brunswick to Haitian parents who fled the Duvalier regime, Pardo works across English, French, and Haitian Creole. His documentary series Afro-Canada (2022) traces 400 years of Black presence in Canada. Beyond his own films, Pardo builds infrastructure for Afrocentric cinema. He founded Black Wealth Media (2016) and the non-profit Encre Noire/Black Ink (2024), which trains emerging Afro-descendant filmmakers while archiving and developing ancestral narrative structures. He is a founding member of Black on Black Films.
Social:
YouTube: TIFF, TIFF Trailers
X: @TIFF_NET & @TIFF_Industry
Instagram, TikTok, Letterboxd, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn
#TIFF
About TIFF:
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization with a mission to transform the way people see the world through film. A global leader in film and entertainment, TIFF initiatives include the annual Toronto International Film Festival® in September; TIFF Lightbox, which features five cinemas, plus learning and entertainment facilities; the Donald Shebib TIFF Film Circuit, an innovative national distribution programme; and TIFF: The 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: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. 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-
