# Toronto International Festival of Authors

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.

### 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