Filmmaker Jacques Audiard gave almost no notes when he sent French songwriting and composing duo Clément Ducol and Camille an early draft of his latest film, “Emilia Perez,” but by the time they reached the final page of the script, they were inspired to write a song called “Para.”

The duo will be honored at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival with the TIFF Variety Artisan Award, which recognizes a distinguished creative or in this case, creatives who have excelled in their craft and made an extraordinary contribution to cinema and entertainment.

Dalmais and Ducol are among the artists who will be honored at the festival's Tribute Award fundraising gala on September 8. Canadian Sandra Oh is honorary chair of the gala.

“Emilia Perez,” which premiered at Cannes in May and is screening at TIFF, stars Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón in a genre-defying combination of crime and pop songs. The film centers on attorney Rita (Saldaña), who helps a crime boss retire from the cartel business and disappear, also undergoing sex reassignment surgery to become the title character, Emilia Perez. Perez then enlists Rita to facilitate a reunion with her wife, played by Gomez. While the plot takes a bold turn, Audiard’s vision is even bolder, using musical numbers and a stirring score to weave the story together.