The People's Choice Award went to 鈥淭he Life of Chuck,鈥� handing Mike Flanagan's Stephen King adaptation one of the most-watched prizes of the fall film festival circuit.
The award for 鈥淭he Life of Chuck鈥� was announced Sunday as North American's largest film festival drew to a close. 鈥淭he Life of Chuck," based on King's 2020 novella of the same name, stars Tom Hiddleston as Charles 鈥淐huck鈥� Krantz, an ordinary man living through apocalyptic cataclysms. Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan and Jacob Tremblay co-star.
TIFF's People's Choice Award is regarded as a reliable Oscar harbinger. Since 2012, every winner of the festival's top prize has gone on to be nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards. Last year, and went on to be a major awards contender.
But 鈥淭he Life of Chuck鈥� could test that track record. The film is up for sale and doesn't yet have distribution. It could be acquired and quickly readied for release this fall, or it might end up a 2025 release. 鈥淭he Life of Chuck" drew mixed 鈥� though mostly positive reviews 鈥� out of Toronto, though audiences were clearly charmed by the uplifting drama.
Runners-up for the People's Choice Award, which is voted on by festival attendees, were both films that first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The first was The second runner-up was Sean Baker's 鈥淎nora,鈥� .
The audience award for top documentary went to Mike Downie's 鈥淭he Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal.鈥� In the festival's Midnight Madness section, the prize went to starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.
Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
