Many of this year’s Oscar hopefuls premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Belfast created the most buzz. Kenneth Branagh’s latest directorial effort picked up the festival’s biggest accolade—the coveted People’s Choice Award.
The coming-of-age drama about a young boy growing up in Belfast during the 60s was met with critical acclaim at TIFF and managed to beat tough competition to win the People’s Choice Award. Scarborough and The Power of the Dog were also in the running for this award and they were crowned as first and second runner-up.
What makes TIFF’s People’s Choice Award so significant is the fact it often foreshadowed Academy Award winners for Best Picture. Last year’s winner Nomadland also picked up this award, and so did Green Book and 12 Years a Slave.
When it comes to the rest of the major winners at TIFF, acting awards went to Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Power of the Dog). Denis Villeneuve walked away with the director award for his work on the sci-fi epic Dune.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT 2021 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Belfast, dir. Kenneth Branagh
PEOPLE’S CHOICE DOCUMENTARY AWARD
The Rescue, dirs. E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin
PEOPLE’s CHOICE MIDNIGHT MADNESS AWARD
Titane, dir. Julia Ducournau
TIFF TRIBUTE ACTOR AWARDS
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog / The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
SPECIAL TRIBUTE AWARD
Dionne Warwick, Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over
TIFF EBERT DIRECTOR AWARD
Denis Villeneuve, Dune
TIFF EMERGING TALENT AWARD
Danis Goulet, Night Raiders
PLATFORM PRIZE
Yuni, dir. Kamila Andini
JEFF SKOLL AWARD IN IMPACT MEDIA
Alanis Obomsawin
SHAWN MENDES FOUNDATION CHANGEMAKER AWARD
Scarborough, dirs. Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson
AMPLIFY VOICES AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM
Ste. Anne, dir. Rhayne Vermette
AMPLIFY VOICES AWARD
The Gravedigger’s Wife, dir. Khadar Ayderus Ahmed
A Night of Knowing Nothing, dir. Payal Kapadia
TIFF VARIETY ARTISAN AWARD
Cinematographer Ari Wegner, The Power of the Dog
IMDbPRO SHORT CUTS AWARD FOR BEST FILM
Displaced, dir. Samir Karahoda
IMDbPRO SHORT CUTS AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FILM
Angakusajaujuq – The Shaman’s Apprentice, dir. Zacharias Kunuk
IMDbPRO SHORT CUTS SHARE HER JOURNEY AWARD
Astel, dir. Ramata-Toulaye Sy
