The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), previously known as the International Festival of Authors (IFOA), is an annual festival presented in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
History
Since 1974, the mission of TIFA programming has been to promote interest and enthusiasm for writing and reading both locally and internationally, to showcase the excellence and variety of Canadian literature, and to introduce young readers to the possibilities of reading and writing. In addition, the organization offers programs and events for communities to increase the awareness of all forms of literature.
Programming
TIFA programming runs throughout the year with several different categories for events. Each TIFA event is digitally recorded with photo, video and audio. Beginning in 2006, these recordings are sent to the holdings of the Library and Archives Canada. Such permanent documentation of IFOA’s extensive programming has allowed researchers and documentary makers extensive use of the archives.
TIFA Weekly Event Series
Running from September to June, the weekly event series includes authors taking part in events like readings, round table discussions, and interviews.
Toronto International Festival of Authors
The Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA), one of the most celebrated literary festivals in the world, was inaugurated in 1980 with a mandate to bring together the best writers of contemporary world literature. Like the weekly series, IFOA includes readings, interviews, round table discussions and talks, as well as public book signings and a festival bookstore. IFOA also continues to present readings by Scotiabank Giller Prize, Governor General’s Literary Award and Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize finalists, the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-fiction recipient, and the awarding of the $10,000 Harbourfront Festival Prize.
Lit on Tour
Beginning in 2007, TIFA sought to grow their audience base by introducing the IFOA’s touring program, IFOA Ontario. This touring program visits communities in numerous cities and towns across Ontario. In 2010 IFOA Ontario featured 16 events in 14 towns and cities, from Windsor to Picton and Hamilton to Thunder Bay."International Festival Goes Provincial" 21 October 2010 Toronto Star.
Book Bash
An integral part of TIFA, Book Bash, previously known as Young IFOA, was born as a way to include a younger generation of readers in a festival of international repute.
ALOUD: a Celebration for Young Readers
ALOUD: a Celebration for Young Readers was also introduced in 2005, featuring some of the world’s leading authors for young people. In 2010, ALOUD was incorporated as part of the Forest of Reading Festival of Trees.
In May 2007, TIFA hosted the first annual Forest of Reading Festival of Trees on the 10-acre Harbourfront Centre site. Now Canada’s largest children’s literary event, attracting 8,000 audience members annually, this action-packed festival celebrates the shared experience of reading through award ceremonies, workshops and activities. The Festival of Trees is presented with the Ontario Library Association.
Harbourfront Festival Prize
Established in 1984, the Harbourfront Festival Prize ($10,000 CDN) was presented annually in recognition of an author's contribution to Canadian letters. It is based on the merits of their own published work and/or the time they have invested in nurturing the next generation of literary talent.
Past recipients
2019 Stuart Ross 2018 Lee Maracle 2017 Joseph Kertes 2016 Miriam Toews 2015 Avie Bennett 2014 Margaret MacMillan 2013 Alice Munro 2012 Austin Clarke 2011 Seth 2010 Peter Robinson 2009 Helen Humphreys 2008 Wayson Choy 2007 Christopher Dewdney 2006 Dionne Brand 2005 Guy Vanderhaeghe 2004 Jane Urquhart 2003 Linda Spalding 2002 Paul Quarrington 2001 Daniel David Moses 2000 Victor Coleman 1999 Matt Cohen 1998 Marty Gervais 1997 Ken Gass 1996 Timothy Findley 1995 Douglas George Fetherling 1994 M. G. Vassanji 1993 Graeme Gibson 1992 Alberto Manguel 1991 Nicole Brossard 1990 Howard Engel 1989 Tomson Highway 1988 Michael Ondaatje 1987 Barry Callaghan 1986 Margaret Atwood 1985 John Robert Colombo 1984 Dennis Lee
Prize winners at Authors
Canadian awards
Scotiabank Giller Prize
Johanna Skibsrud, 2010 Linden MacIntyre, 2009 Joseph Boyden, 2008 Elizabeth Hay, 2007 Vincent Lam, 2006 David Bergen, 2005 Alice Munro, 2004 M.G. Vassanji, 2003, 1994 Austin Clarke, 2002 Richard B. Wright, 2001 Michael Ondaatje, 2000 David Adams Richards, 2000 Bonnie Burnard, 1999 Mordecai Richler, 1997 Margaret Atwood, 1996 Rohinton Mistry, 1995
Governor General's Literary Award for English Fiction
Dianne Warren, 2010 Kate Pullinger, 2009 Nino Ricci, 2008, 1990 Michael Ondaatje, 2007, 2000, 1992 Peter Behrens, 2006 David Gilmour, 2005 Miriam Toews, 2004 Douglas Glover, 2003 Gloria Sawai, 2002 Richard B. Wright, 2001 Matt Cohen, 1999 Diane Schoemperlen, 1998 Jane Urquhart, 1997 Guy Vanderhaeghe, 1996, 1982 Greg Hollingshead, 1995 Rudy Wiebe, 1994, 1973 Carol Shields, 1993 Rohinton Mistry, 1991 Paul Quarrington, 1989 David Adams Richards, 1988 M. T. Kelly, 1987 Alice Munro, 1986, 1978, 1968 Margaret Atwood, 1985 Josef Skvorecky, 1984 Leon Rooke, 1983 Mavis Gallant, 1981 George Bowering, 1980 Jack Hodgins, 1979 Timothy Findley, 1977 Marian Engel, 1976 Brian Moore, 1975, 1960 Robertson Davies, 1972 Mordecai Richler, 1971 Robert Kroetsch, 1969 Douglas LePan, 1964 Kildare Dobbs, 1961 Hugh MacLennan, 1959, 1948, 1945 Morley Callaghan, 1951
Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction
Ian Brown, 2010 Tim Cook, 2009 Richard Gwyn, 2008 Rudy Wiebe, 2007 J.B. MacKinnon, 2006 Charles Montgomery, 2005 Isabel Huggan, 2004 Carol Shields, 2002 Wayne Johnston, 2000
Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
Emma Donoghue, 2010 Annabel Lyon, 2009 Miriam Toews, 2008 Lawrence Hill, 2007 Kenneth J. Harvey, 2006 Joseph Boyden, 2005 Alice Munro, 2004 Kevin Patterson, 2003 Paulette Jiles, 2002 Helen Humphreys, 2000 Peter Oliva, 1999 Greg Hollingshead, 1998 Austin Clarke, 1997
International awards
Nobel Prize in Literature
Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru), 2010 Herta Müller (Romania. Germany), 2009 Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio (France), 2008 Doris Lessing (UK), 2007 Orhan Pamuk (Turkey), 2006 Harold Pinter (UK), 2005 J. M. Coetzee (South Africa), 2003 Seamus Heaney (Ireland), 1995 Kenzaburō Ōe (Japan), 1994 Toni Morrison (U.S.A.), 1993 Derek Walcott (St. Lucia), 1992 Nadine Gordimer (South Africa), 1991 Joseph Brodsky (Russia), 1987 Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), 1986 John Polanyi (Canada/Hungary), 1986 (Prize in Chemistry) William Golding (UK), 1983 Czeslaw Milosz (U.S.A.), 1980 Saul Bellow (Canada/U.S.A.), 1976
Man Booker Prize
Howard Jacobson (UK), 2010 Hilary Mantel (UK), 2009 Anne Enright (Ireland), 2009 Aravind Adiga (India), 2008 Kiran Desai (India), 2006 John Banville (Ireland), 2005 Alan Hollinghurst (UK), 2004 Yann Martel (Canada), 2002 Peter Carey (Australia), 2001, 1988 Margaret Atwood (Canada), 2000 J. M. Coetzee (South Africa), 1999, 1983 Ian McEwan (UK), 1998 Graham Swift (UK), 1996 James Kelman (UK), 1994 Barry Unsworth (UK), 1992 Michael Ondaatje (Canada), 1992 Ben Okri (Nigeria), 1991 A.S. Byatt (UK), 1990 Kazuo Ishiguro (UK), 1989 Penelope Lively (UK), 1987 Keri Hulme (New Zealand), 1985 Thomas Keneally (Australia), 1982 Salman Rushdie (UK), 1981 (and in 1993 – Booker of Bookers) Penelope Fitzgerald (UK), 1979 Nadine Gordimer (South Africa), 1974
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Paul Harding, 2010 Elizabeth Strout, 2009 Junot Díaz, 2008 Geraldine Brooks, 2006 Marilynne Robinson, 2005 Edward P. Jones, 2004 Jeffrey Eugenides, 2003 Richard Russo, 2002 Jhumpa Lahiri, 2000 Michael Cunningham, 1999 Richard Ford, 1996 Carol Shields, 1995 E. Annie Proulx, 1994 Robert Olen Butler, 1993 Jane Smiley, 1992 Oscar Hijuelos, 1990 Toni Morrison, 1988 Peter Taylor, 1987 Larry McMurty, 1986 Alison Lurie, 1985 William Kennedy, 1984 Alice Walker, 1983 John Cheever, 1979 Saul Bellow, 1976 Wallace Stegner, 1972 William Styron, 1968
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
Gerbrand Bakker (The Netherlands), 2010 Michael Thomas (USA), 2009 Rawi Hage (Canada), 2008 Per Petterson (Norway), 2007 Colm Tóibín (Ireland), 2006 Edward P. Jones (U.S.A.), 2005 Orhan Pamuk (Turkey), 2003 Alistair MacLeod (Canada), 2001 Andrew Miller (UK), 1999 Herta Müller (Germany), 1998 David Malouf (Australia), 1996
Orange Prize
Marilynne Robinson (USA), 2009 Rose Tremain (UK), 2008 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria), 2007 Zadie Smith (UK), 2006 Andrea Levy (UK), 2004 Valerie Martin (U.S.A.), 2003 Kate Grenville (Australia), 2001 Carol Shields (U.S.A.), 1998 Anne Michaels (Canada), 1997 Helen Dunmore (UK), 1996
Venues Fleck Dance Theatre Brigantine Room Studio Theatre Lakeside Terrace Concert Stage - outdoor concert venue Miss Lou's Room
References
External links Authors at Harbourfront Centre Archives of the International Festival of Authors are held in the International Readinds Harbourfront Centre fonds (R13150) at Library and Archives Canada