TORONTO - Joaquin Phoenix will add another prize to his growing chest of accolades at the Toronto International Film Festival's inaugural Tribute Gala.
The edgy Hollywood star is set to receive the Tribute Actor Award as part of the fundraiser that celebrates the careers of several performers and creators in the film industry.
Phoenix is a three-time Oscar nominee having picked up nods for "Gladiator," "The Master," and "Walk the Line," a portrayal of Johnny Cash which won him a Golden Globe and a Grammy Award for the soundtrack. He's also starred in a number of cult favourites including "To Die For," "Buffalo Soldiers" and "Her."
This year, he'll play the title character in "Joker," a standalone origin story for the famed Batman villain. The film makes its North American premiere at TIFF, marking the first mainstream comic-book adaptation to play the festival.
Phoenix joins three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep who will also be honoured with an acting award to coincide with the premiere of her film "The Laundromat" at the festival.
New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi, whose satire "Jojo Rabbit" is part of this year's lineup, will receive a new director's prize called the TIFF Ebert Director Award.
