‘The Whale’s Brendan Fraser Set For 2022 TIFF Tribute Award For Performance

Matt Grobar

Brendan Fraser will be honored with a TIFF Tribute Award for Performance at the 2022 Toronto Film Festival’s eponymous gala fundraiser, which is set for an in-person return at Fairmont Royal York Hotel on Sunday, September 11. The award comes in recognition of Fraser’s work on Darren Aronofsky’s anticipated drama The Whale, which makes its North American premiere in Toronto after bowing in Venice.

The TIFF Tribute Award recognizing Fraser is one of two acting awards to be handed out at this year’s gala, with the other going to the ensemble of Michael Grandage’s romantic drama, My Policeman, for Amazon. Past recipients of TIFF’s acting prize include Jessica Chastain and Benedict Cumberbatch in 2021; Kate Winslet and Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2020; and Meryl Streep and Joaquin Phoenix in 2019.

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The Whale tells the story of Charlie (Fraser), a reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. The A24 film based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter also stars Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins and Samantha Morton. Elevation Pictures will serve as its Canadian distributor.

“Brendan Fraser gives a performance of staggering depth, power, and nuance in The Whale,” said TIFF CEO, Cameron Bailey “This former Torontonian has been an action star, a screen comic, and a romantic lead. We’re thrilled to welcome him home as the actor behind one of the finest performances of the year.”

An award-winning actor with a career spanning more than 30 years, Fraser is known for his portrayal of Rick O’Connell in The Mummy trilogy, and for films like Journey to the Center of the Earth, Crash, Bedazzled, George of the Jungle, Glory Daze, Airheads, School Ties and Encino Man, among many others. Notable TV credits include Doom Patrol, Condor, Trust, The Affair and Scrubs. In addition to The Whale, Fraser will next be seen in Max Barbakow’s comedy Brothers, produced by Legendary Entertainment, and Martin Scorsese’s crime drama Killers of the Flower Moon for Apple.

Also on the list of this year’s TIFF Tribute Award honorees is Academy Award-winning filmmaker Sam Mendes, who will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award. The 47th edition of the festival will take place from September 8-18.

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