Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” won the highly coveted people’s choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival, bolstering Oscar chances. Additionally, Zhao is the first manager to win two awards after his 2020 victory in “Nomadland.”
Since the Academy expanded its Best Picture Field in 2009, TIFF Audience Award winners have become trusted Oscar Barometers. Films like “Green Book” (2018) and “Nomadland” (2020) won the highest awards, while other films like “The Fabelmans” (2022) were heavily considered in the awards season. “Where are you going now?” (2011), unable to secure the best photos.
All other winners claim at least one Oscar. Last year’s winner Neon was late in 2025, “The Life of Chuck,” faces a tough battle this year to maintain its streak in light of its June release date, but it could possibly show up in the script adaptation.
The People’s Choice category was created in 1978. Seven winners have won the best photos at the Oscars, and five of these victories have come in the last 20 years.
Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” was the first runner-up in the Canadian Awards, followed by Leanne Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: Knife Out Mystery” in third place. The documentary’s Audience Award went to “The Road: The Ultimate Rescue” from Barry Avrich. The film watches a former Israeli general and his attempts to save his family during the attack on October 7th.
The winner of the international people’s choice was Park Chang Wook’s Korean satire thriller “There’s No Other Option,” ahead of runner-up “Sentimental Values” from Norwegian director Joachim Trier.
The 50th edition of the Toronto Film Festival was one of the stars for many years. And while TIFF may not have had the flashy sales that were known to TIFF, several films still managed to distribute the land, including Stephen Soderbergh’s “Christopher’s,” Mona Fastbold’s “Anne Lee’s Will,” and Daniel Roher’s “Tuner.”
The complete list of winners can be found below.
Tiff People’s Choice Award: “Hamnet”
First runner-up: “Frankenstein”
Second runner-up: “The Man Who Wakes Up and Dead: Knife Out Mystery”
Tiff People’s Choice International Award: “There are no other options”
First runner-up: “Sentimental Value”
Second runner-up: “Homebound”
Tiff People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award: “Nirvanna The Band the Show the Movie”
First runner-up: “Obsession”
Second runner-up: “Fast”
Tiff People’s Choice Documentary Award: “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue”
First runner-up: “Epic: Elvis Presley’s Concert”
Second runner-up: “You had to be there: how Toronto God Spell ignited a comedy revolution…”
