The 20201 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has announced another TIFF Tribute Award honoree. Ari Wegner, the cinematographer of “Zola” and TIFF 2021 title “The Power of the Dog,” will receive the TIFF Variety Artisan Award. According to a press release, the prize is presented to “a distinguished creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment.”
Wegner will accept the TIFF Variety Artisan honor at the Tribute Awards on September 18. The ceremony’s other awardees include “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” star Jessica Chastain (TIFF Tribute Actor Award), music legend Dionne Warwick (Special Tribute Award), and filmmakers Alanis Obomsawin (Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media) and Danis Goulet (TIFF Emerging Talent Award).
“We are absolutely thrilled to honor Ari Wegner with this year’s TIFF Variety Artisan Award and to showcase her illustrious career in film and television,” said TIFF co-head Joana Vicente. “Ari brings such a transformative and unique style to all of her projects, including her stunning cinematography in ‘The Power of the Dog.’ We can’t wait for our audiences to see the Special Presentation of this powerful film during the Festival.”
“Ari approaches every project she works on with such a thoughtful and creative gaze,” added Steven Gaydos, Executive Vice President, Content Executive Editor, Variety. “Her work is inspiring and groundbreaking, and we are looking forward to being able to honor her incredible work and contributions at this year’s awards.”
A Western directed by Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” will make its North American premiere at TIFF next week. Wegner’s other credits include “Lady Macbeth,” “The Girlfriend Experience” series, and “In Fabric.” She won a British Independent Film Award (BIFA) for her work on the former, and received a BIFA nomination for the latter.
“I don’t fixate on particular lamps,” Wegner has said of her craft. “For me, the important conversation is about the tone of a scene and then what quality and direction of light will best create that tone.”
TIFF runs September 9-18. The Tribute Awards will air on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app. Variety will also be streaming the ceremony globally.
