TORONTO, Canada – The ICFF and Lavazza IncluCity Festival concluded on Sunday, July 21st, at Toronto’s Distillery Historic District, recording approximately 240,000 visitors and an outstanding turnout for international guests. Films dedicated to multiculturalism and marginalized communities dominated the awards this year, showcasing powerful and poignant storytelling that highlighted diverse perspectives and experiences.
These films captured the hearts of audiences and garnered critical acclaim, reflecting the festival’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and representation in cinema.
With its 2024 edition, the festival once again proved to be a monumental celebration of cinema, culture, and community for Toronto and the Canadian entertainment landscape. Among the highlights of the closing night was the announcement of the festival’s awards.
The sought-after People’s Choice Awards went to Nata per te (Born of You) by Fabio Mollo for the ICFF and Un p’tit truc en plus (A Little Something Extra) by Artur for the Lavazza IncluCity Festival. Both films exemplify representation through their inclusion and advocacy for equal rights.
The prestigious IncluCity Jury Prize, announced by Jury President Matt Johnson (director of BlackBerry) during the Closing Night, went to The Braid by Laetitia Colombani for its heart-wrenching and accurate representation of the hardships women face in Canada, Italy, and India.
The winner of the TFCA Angela Baldassarre Award was L’ultima notte di Amore (The Last Night of Amore) by Andrea Di Stefano for its innovative approach to the crime-thriller genre.
The festival was also proud to award the ICFF Lifetime Achievement Award to Rocco Papaleo, Guest of Honour of this year’s festival edition. Papaleo participated in the screening of his multi-award-winning films, Basilicata Coast to Coast and Una Piccola impresa meridionale (A Small Southern Enterprise).
The International Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Isabella Rossellini at the festival’s Closing Gala. Renowned for her illustrious career spanning film, television, and modeling, Rossellini has captivated audiences worldwide with her remarkable talent and enduring contributions to the arts, which will be celebrated during the event at The Hearn. The former power plant of Toronto, now used as a set location for many films and series, will be transformed into a high-end, unique venue where over 400 guests will gather to dive into Rossellini’s legacy.
The festival was proud to celebrate Canada and Canadian cinema with incredible directors in attendance. Among them, IncluCity was thrilled to exclusively present the latest film by award-winning director Atom Egoyan. During the presentation of Seven Veils on July 1st, Egoyan was awarded the 2024 IncluCity Excellence Award for the mastery and craft demonstrated in the film starring Amanda Seyfried while bringing to screen topics of art, trauma, and healing.
The ICFF award for Best Director was bestowed upon Neri Marcoré for his directorial debut, Zamora, which seamlessly blends comedy with themes of belonging. Marcorè participated in the screening of Zamora in Toronto and received incredible feedback from attendees and jury alike for his movie.
ICFF’s 2024 Best Series Award went to Marconi. L’uomo che ha connesso il mondo (Marconi. The Man Who Connected the World) by Lucio Pellegrini and produced by RAI Fiction. Pellegrini skillfully brought this true story to the screen with outstanding accuracy and captivating narration, as well as acting, earning it the festival’s top honor.
Miguel Ferrer, director of La Sombra del Sol (The Shadow of the Sun), was awarded the IncluCity Best Director for 2024 for his admirable and awe-inspiring vision in portraying a story about the Deaf community. He both carefully and tenderly tells the story of two brothers trying to create a better life through music and passion.
Winning the Best Actor for the IncluCity was Alexandre Machafer, who joined the festival for the Canadian Premiere of his film Jorge Da Capadocia, an epic tale set during the Roman Empire. The ICFF Best Actor Award went to Edoardo Pesce for his role in Martedì e venerdì (Tuesday and Friday), where he plays a divorced father struggling to balance caring for his daughter with his deteriorating work life.
The award for Best Actress in the International category went unanimously to Kaimana for her exceptional portrayal of Jaiyah in Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins, which truly showcased her remarkable talent and depth, bringing a powerful and authentic representation to the character that resonated deeply with both the audience and the jury. For the ICFF category, the festival named Vanessa Scalerathe winner of the Best Actress prize for her role in Napoli Milionaria.
The prize for Best Production was awarded to Finalmente l’Alba (Finally Dawn) by Saverio Costanzo, the star-studded film with larger-than-life sets inspired by Golden Age Italian cinema and the work of the incredible Federico Fellini.
One of the standout celebrations of the festival was the Norman Jewison Retrospective, which honored the legendary Canadian director’s illustrious career. Attendees were treated to screenings of Jewison’s most iconic films, preceded by insightful discussions and introductions that delved into his impact on the film industry. Panelists included those who knew Jewison both professionally and personally.
The Fellini Forever Exhibition was another highlight, offering festival-goers a unique glimpse into the world of Federico Fellini. The exhibition featured rare memorabilia, behind-the-scenes photographs, and original costumes from some of Fellini’s most famous works. Complementing the exhibition were special celebratory screenings of Fellini’s classics, providing a comprehensive look at the Italian maestro’s cinematic genius.
The Architecture and Design program attracted guests from Italy, including the brilliant co-director of the documentary Green Over Gray, Francesca Molteni, which the festival screened. Audiences gathered for the highly anticipated ArchiWine and Canada Winescape, an evening that explored architecture in wineries through wine tastings, two documentaries, and panel discussions from professionals in the field. The festival also showcased an extraordinary episode of NORR ed presented by Silvio Baldassarra on the legacy of Carlo Mollino.
The festival proudly hosted the ICFF Industry Days, a series of tailored conferences and networking events dedicated to exploring topics on the entertainment industry in Canada and worldwide. Preceding the presentation of the Academy Award-winning film The Shape of Water, Miles Dale (producer) and Paul Austerberry (production designer) joined to discuss movies and series filmed at the Distillery District. A second panel discussion was dedicated to book-to-screen adaptations featuring panelists Nick Iannelli (Senior Vice President, Take 5 Productions), Neri Marcorè (director Zamora), Fabio Mollo (director Nata per te), Sherren Lee (director Float), and Ken Cancellara (producer From the Vine). Finally, the curator of the festival’s Dark Side horror program, Chris Alexander, moderated a conversation on the horror genre featuring Vincenzo Natali (director The Cube), Sarah Timlick (Director of Marketing and Distribution of Elevation Pictures), and Alex Kavanagh (costume designer Saw II-VII).
This year’s ICFF, with its wide array of events, conferences, concerts, and premieres, achieved record attendance, with thousands of film lovers flocking to the Distillery Historic District. The diverse film lineup and vibrant atmosphere have undoubtedly left a memorable mark on this summer’s cultural landscape, solidifying the festival as a mainstay attraction for Torontonians and visitors alike.
About ICFF Lavazza IncluCity Festival
The ICFF Lavazza IncluCity Festival is an annual celebration of international cinema and multiculturalism, held in the heart of Toronto at the Distillery Historic District. The festival aims to promote cultural diversity and understanding through the universal language of film.
