The 41st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) ended on Sunday with the announcement of award winners at a ceremony hosted by CEO and Director of TIFF, Piers Handling, and Artistic Director, Cameron Bailey.
Despite strong showing by the eight Nollywood movies screened in the City to City segment of the 10-day event, none from Africa’s most prolific film industry emerged winner in any of the categories.
Of particular interest is the Grolsch People’s Choice Award which is given to the film that wins the most votes from the Festival-going public.
This year’s winner is Damien Chazelle’s La La Land starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
Audiences at the Festival fell in love with the story of Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for destroying hopes and breaking hearts.
The second runner up is Mira Nair’s Queen of Katwe starring Lupita Nyong’o while the first runner up is Garth Davis’s Lion.
This marked the 39th year that Toronto audiences were able to cast a ballot for their favourite Festival film for the Award.
TIFF 2016 fans voted for their favourite film in person by depositing their physical tickets in one of the Grolsch PCA boxes stationed outside the cinemas and via the Official TIFF App available on both iOS and Android.
Being the last of the Top 5 Film Festivals before the Oscar, TIFF People’s Choice Award winners are highly regarded.
Since 2008, every single People’s Choice Award winner, save for 2011 winner Where Do We Go Now?, has been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscar.
Of those titles, Slumdog Millionaire, The King’s Speech and 12 Years a Slave have ultimately won the Oscar for Best Picture.
The award also offers a $15,000 cash prize and custom award, sponsored by Grolsch.
Full list of TIFF winners
People’s Choice Award: La La Land by Damien Chazelle
People’s Choice Award for Documentary: I Am Not Your Negro by Raoul Peck
People’s Choice Award for Midnight Madness: Free Fire by Ben Wheatley
Platform Prize: Jackie by Pablo Larrian
Platform Prize, Special Mention: Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait by Khyentse Norbu
Best Canadian Feature Film: Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves by Mathieu Denis and Simon Lavoie
Best Canadian First Feature Film: Old Stone by Johnny Ma
Prizes of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Special Presentations Section: I Am Not Madame Bovary by Feng Xiaogang
Prizes of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Discovery Section: Kati Kati by Mbithi Masya
Dropbox Discovery Programme Filmmakers Award: Jeffrey by Yanillys Perez
NETPAC Award for World or International Asian Film Premiere: In Between by Maysaloun Hamoud
Best Short Film: Imago by Ribay Gutierrez
Best Canadian Short Film: Mutants by Alexandre Dostie
