Montreal-based Miryam Charles named first winner of $25K Charles Officer Legacy Award
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/02/2025 (302 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
TORONTO – Montreal-based filmmaker Miryam Charles is the inaugural recipient of the $25,000 Charles Officer Legacy Award.
The award for creative excellence by a Canadian Black director or writer was announced Wednesday at the opening ceremony for Canada’s Top Ten, an annual film showcase by the Toronto International Film Festival.
The jury praised Charles for a bold artistic vision and “curiosity that pushes a unique style and form.” Her first feature, “Cette maison,” was a Canada’s Top Ten selection in 2022.
The award was presented by TIFF and CBC in honour of late Canadian filmmaker Charles Officer, whose films reflected Black experiences, including 2008’s “Nurse. Fighter. Boy” and 2020’s “Akilla’s Escape.”
Officer, who died in December 2023, also co-founded the Black Screen Office, a non-profit organization dedicated to combating anti-Black racism and fostering equity in Canada’s screen industries.
Miryam Charles is a Canadian director, producer, and cinematographer of Haitian origin, and is currently working on her next feature.
The TIFF ceremony also announced Jason Anderson as the festival’s new lead programmer for Canada, putting him in charge of the Canadian feature film selection alongside Canadian programmer Kelly Boutsalis.
Canada’s Top Ten is curated by programmers with TIFF in consultation with festival programmers from across Canada.
This edition includes R.T. Thorne’s “40 Acres,” Kaniehtiio Horn’s “Seeds,” David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds,” and Matthew Rankin’s “Universal Language.”
It runs through Sunday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2025.