The 2023 Toronto Film Festival just wrapped up, and the People’s Choice Award has been given to the captivating film American Fiction. Taking the First Runner Up spot is Alexander Payne’s thought-provoking movie The Holdovers, while Hayao Miyazaki’s enchanting masterpiece The Boy And The Heron secured the Second Runner Up position. The Documentary Award was well-deservedly won by Mr. Dressup: The Magic Of Make-Believe, and the Midnight Madness winner was the entertaining and lively Dicks: The Musical.
American Fiction, produced by Orion and MRC, stars the talented Jeffrey Wright and is written and directed by Cord Jefferson. This film is a scathing satire that delves into the publishing industry’s treatment of serious works by Black writers. The story follows Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, who, under the pseudonym Sinatra Golden, submits a stereotypical book titled “We’s Lives In Da Ghetto” as a protest. However, he is taken aback when the book becomes a bestseller. Look out for its theatrical release in November.
The Toronto Film Festival is known for its ability to predict Best Picture Oscar winners, as the People’s Choice Award, voted online by audience members since 1978, often serves as a harbinger. Past winners of this prestigious award include films like Nomadland, Green Book, 12 Years a Slave, The King’s Speech, Slumdog Millionaire, American Beauty, and Chariots of Fire. Additionally, many films that received nominations for Best Picture have also been recognized at TIFF, including last year’s winner The Fabelmans, as well as Belfast, JoJo Rabbit, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Room, La La Land, The Imitation Game, Silver Linings Playbook, Precious, Life Is Beautiful, Places in the Heart, and The Big Chill.
Here is a complete list of the 2023 TIFF Award Winners:
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