New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi has been named the recipient of the first ever the Ebert Director Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The Boy and Thor: Ragnarok director is heading to the festival next month to premiere his latest movie, Jojo Rabbit.
Waititi is being described as "the rock star cinema needs right now" by TIFF bosses.
"Taika Waititi is one of the most innovative, bold, and exciting filmmakers working in the industry right now. TIFF is thrilled to honour his extraordinary talent," says TIFF head Joana Vicente.
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Waititi hasn't addressed the TIFF honour on Twitter, which he regularly uses.
His most recent tweet, posted on the weekend, suggested outgoing Green Party politician Jack McDonald would be Aotearoa's future prime minister.
Waititi was recently confirmed as writer and director on Thor: Love and Thunder, which Marvel plans to release in 2021.
Although Waititi is receiving the first Ebert Director Award, the honour is an "evolution" of TIFF's Roger Ebert Golden Thumb Award, which celebrated a remarkable filmmaker who reflected renowned film critic Roger Ebert's passion for cinema.
Past recipients include Claire Denis, Martin Scorsese, Ava DuVernay, Agnès Varda, and Wim Wenders.
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