‘Hamnet’ Wins Toronto Film Festival Audience Award

Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” captured the Toronto International Film Festival’s highly coveted people’s choice award, bolstering its Oscars chances.

Since the Academy expanded the best picture field in 2009, TIFF Audience Award winners have become reliable Oscar barometers. Films such as “Green Book” (2018) and “Nomadland” (2020) went on to claim the top prize, while others like “The Fabelmans” (2022) factored heavily into awards season. Only one winner, “Where Do We Go Now?” (2011), failed to secure a best picture nom.

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Every other winner has claimed at least one Oscar. Last year’s winner, “The Life of Chuck,” which Neon delayed to 2025, faces an uphill battle this year to maintain that streak given its June release date, but it could show up in adapted screenplay.

The people’s choice category was created in 1978. Seven recipients won best picture at the Oscars, with five of those victories coming in the past two decades.

Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” was the first runner-up for the Canadian prize, which was followed by Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man” landing in the third place spot. The audience prize for documentary went to “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” from Barry Avrich.

The International People’s Choice winner was Park Chan-wook’s South Korean “No Other Choice,” ahead of runner-up “Sentimental Value” from Norwegian director Joachim Trier.

The Toronto Film Festival’s 50th edition may not have reached previous heights in terms of buzz and awards contenders but it was one of its starriest in years. And even though there may not have been the splashy sales that TIFF had been known for, several films could still land distribution, including Steven Soderbergh’s “The Christophers,” Mona Fastvold’s “The Testament of Ann Lee” and Daniel Roher’s “Tuner,” which garnered raves from critics.

More to come…

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