Seth Rogen was honoured with the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, marking recognition for a career spanning film, television and writing since his teenage years in Vancouver. Ahead of the ceremony, he took part in a wide-ranging on-stage conversation with TIFF's Geoff Macnaughton, reflecting on his early start in stand-up comedy, his creative partnership with Evan Goldberg, and the mentorship of Judd Apatow, whose blunt on-set direction during "Knocked Up" — "less semen, more emotion" — became a guiding principle for balancing humour with emotional depth in his work.

Rogen, 44, began performing stand-up at 13 and co-wrote an early draft of "Superbad" around the same age, later appearing in and writing for Apatow's shows "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared" before turning 20. He has since starred in more than 40 films, written 10, directed two and created four TV series, including "The Studio". He also has two films at this year's festival, "Babies" and "Tangles", both made with his wife Lauren Miller Rogen, and he attributed his prolific output to genuine enjoyment of his work rather than obligation, alongside years of training that have left him unafraid of a blank page.