Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice Award Emerges as Reliable Oscar Best Picture Bellwether
In the last quarter-century, the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival has resulted in 16 Oscar Best Picture nominees, while the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion has produced only seven in the same timeframe. Since 2012, 14 films that were runners-up for the People's Choice have received Oscar nominations. This award's ability to predict success is linked to audience reactions—such as gasps, laughter, and applause—rather than just standing ovations. After nine days at TIFF, four to six films are vying for this year's People's Choice. Notable entries include Peter Farrelly's I Play Rocky, Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut with Julianne Moore, and Jordan Firstman's Club Kid. The winner will be revealed on Sunday during the TIFF awards ceremony.
Key facts
- Over 25 years, 16 Toronto People's Choice winners became Oscar Best Picture nominees, versus seven Venice Golden Lion winners.
- Since 2012, 14 People's Choice runners-up earned Oscar nominations.
- Peter Farrelly previously won People's Choice for Green Book in 2018.
- I Play Rocky stars Anthony Ippolito as Sylvester Stallone.
- Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut features Julianne Moore and received a mid-movie applause break.
- Jordan Firstman's Club Kid prompted TIFF to add an extra public screening.
- Elsinore stars Andrew Scott as Ian Charleson and is eligible for the International People's Choice Award.
- La Bola Negra is directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi and spans three timelines.
Entities
Artists
- Guillermo del Toro
- Anthony Ippolito
- Sylvester Stallone
- Peter Farrelly
- Craig Horlbeck
- Matt Belloni
- Chloé Zhao
- Jesse Eisenberg
- Julianne Moore
- Jordan Firstman
- Andrew Scott
- Ian Charleson
- Park Chan-wook
- Javier Calvo
- Javier Ambrossi
- Glenn Close
- Cynthia Erivo
- Nicole Kidman
Institutions
- Toronto Film Festival
- Venice Film Festival
- Telluride Film Festival
- Princess of Wales Theatre
- The Ringer
- The Town podcast
- National Theatre
- AMC
Locations
- Toronto
- Canada
- Venice
- Italy
- Telluride
- United States
- Lake Ontario
- Spain