The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has created a new award in honour of legendary Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison, with the aim of recognizing Canadians in the film industry who have made a global impact with their careers.

The inaugural recipient of the Norman Jewison Award, presented by the Budman family, will be Canadian producer-director Shawn Levy. He will receive the award as part of the TIFF Tribute Awards gala fundraiser, which takes place on Sept. 10 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

Montreal-born Levy is known for the hit Netflix series Stranger Things as well as the Night at the Museum franchise, as well as films such as Free Guy, The Adam Project and the upcoming Marvel/Disney production Deadpool 3.

Levy will be showcasing his latest project in TIFF’s Primetime programme, an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel All the Light We Cannot See, which he directed and produced through his 21 Laps prodco as a four-part Netflix series that’s slated to premiere on the streamer in the fall.

“We’re honoured to present this new award, named after legendary Canadian filmmaker Norman Jewison, whose commitment to developing Canadian cinema and impact on the global stage is unmatched,” said TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey in a statement.

Levy joins the recently announced 2023 TIFF Tribute Award honourees Pedro Almodóvar, recipient of the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media presented by Participant, and Spike Lee, recipient of the TIFF Ebert Director Award.

Photo by Guy Aroch/Netflix