In a gala dinner held on September 9 amid the Toronto International Film Festival’s unspooling premieres, the festival paid tribute to Joaquin Phoenix, Meryl Streep, filmmaker Taika Waititi and cinematographer Roger Deakins. With the city teeming with stars in town for the festival, TIFF this year added a star-studded fundraising dinner that coincided with some of its most anticipated premieres. Streep stopped by just as her financial industry satire “The Laundromat” was screening. Phoenix’s “Joker” was simultaneously making its North American debut just blocks away. Phoenix, who rushed up to the stage before Willem Dafoe had finished his introduction to the actor, said he had intended just to “make a bunch of tasteless jokes at my expense.” But Phoenix said he was moved by the clip reel of his films that played before his speech.

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Phoenix remembers his brother

“Joker” arrived in Toronto fresh off its Golden Lion win Saturday at the Venice Film Festival. Earlier in the day, Phoenix visited painted wall murals advocating for veganism at a Toronto subway station. Later, after the film screened Monday evening at TIFF, Phoenix acknowledged deciding to take on the role of the Joker “wasn’t an easy decision at first.”

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Meryl Streep encouraged performers

At the tribute gala, Streep encouraged fellow performers to choose a role with social mindfulness.

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Waititi honored for life's work

Waititi, whose “Jojo Rabbit” premiered Sunday in Toronto, received the festival’s Ebert Director Award, named after the late film critic Roger Ebert. Deakins, who photographed “The Goldfinch” (also a Sunday premiere at TIFF) was honored for his life’s work. The French filmmaker Mati Diop (“Atlantics”) was given the Mary Pickford Award for an emerging, groundbreaking female talent. Jeff Skoll and David Linde’s production company Participant was celebrated with the festival’s award for social impact.

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(With inputs from AP)