Chloé Zhao's historical drama, 'Hamnet,' has taken home the coveted People's Choice Award at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This prestigious award, voted on by festival attendees since 1978, is often seen as a strong indicator of potential Oscar success. 'Hamnet,' starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, follows the emotionally charged story based on Maggie O'Farrell's acclaimed 2020 novel. The film, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival before its international debut at TIFF, marks Zhao's second People's Choice Award win at TIFF, following her Oscar-winning 'Nomadland' in 2020.
Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' and Rian Johnson's 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' secured the first and second runner-up positions, respectively. Both films are Netflix productions, while 'Hamnet' is distributed by Focus Features. This year's TIFF also saw the introduction of a new International People's Choice Award, won by Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice'. The Documentary People's Choice Award went to Barry Avrich's 'The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue'.
The People's Choice Award's track record speaks volumes; previous winners include Academy Award Best Picture winners such as 'Nomadland,' 'Green Book,' '12 Years a Slave,' and 'Slumdog Millionaire.' The consistent correlation between TIFF's People's Choice Award and subsequent Oscar nominations and wins makes 'Hamnet' a significant contender for this year's Academy Awards. With a limited release scheduled for Thanksgiving (November 27th) and a wider release on December 12th, 'Hamnet' is poised to capture the attention of critics and audiences alike. The film's success at TIFF undoubtedly fuels anticipation for its potential Oscar journey.
The full list of TIFF award winners includes a diverse range of films spanning various genres and international origins. This showcases the festival’s dedication to celebrating cinematic storytelling from around the globe. The success of 'Hamnet' at TIFF raises the stakes for the upcoming awards season, adding another layer of anticipation to the race for the coveted Oscars.
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Originally published at: https://deadline.com/2025/09/hamnet-toronto-film-festival-peoples-choice-award-1236530932/
