Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE
The 38th Toronto International Film Festival today announced its award recipients at a reception at the Intercontinental Hotel in Toronto. Among the top prizes, Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE won the BlackBerry People’s Choice Award. The film tells the incredible true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841 and finally freed in 1853. The story is a triumphant tale of one man’s courage and perseverance to reunite with his family that serves as an important historical and cultural marker in American history. The BlackBerry People’s Choice Documentary Award went to Jehane Noujaim for THE SQUARE.
YOUTUBE AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM
Walter Woodman and Patrick Cederberg for NOAH.
Honorable mentions to Kevan Funke’s YELLOWHEAD, and Fraser Munden and Neil Rathbone’s THE CHAPERONE 3D.
CITY OF TORONTO + CANADA GOOSE AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE FILM
Alan Zweig for WHEN JEWS WERE FUNNY.
“For three generations of extraordinary, honest and courageous performances in Peter Stebbing’s EMPIRE OF DIRT, the jury presents a special citation to Jennifer Podemski, Cara Gee and Shay Eyre.”
AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FIRST FEATURE FILM
Shayne Ehman and Seth Scriver for ASPHALT WATCHES.
“For its technical mastery, polish, sense of fun and ability to scare the pants off us, the jury gives an honorable mention to AFFLICTED.”
THE PRIZES OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRITICS (FIPRESCI PRIZES)
Pawel Pawlikowski for IDA .
Prize of the International Critics (FIPRESCI) for the Discovery program awarded to Claudia Sainte-Luce for THE AMAZING CATFISH.
BLACKBERRY® PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS
This year’s award goes to Steve McQueen for 12 YEARS A SLAVE.
The second runner up is Denis Villeneuve’s PRISONERS.
The BlackBerry People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award goes to Sion Sono’s WHY DON’T YOU PLAY IN HELL?(Jigoku de Naze Warui). The film follows two men, Muto and Ikegami, who hate each other. Muto desperately wants to help his daughter Mitsuko star in a movie. Meanwhile, Ikegami falls in love with Mitsuko, knowing that she’s the daughter of his foe. Hirata, a filmmaker, and Koji, a young movie-lover, get dragged into this complicated situation that heads into an unexpected direction.
First runner up is Mike Flanagan for OCULUS and the second runner up is Álex de la Iglesia for WITCHING & BITCHING.
The BlackBerry People’s Choice Documentary Award goes to Jehane Noujaim for THE SQUARE. The story of revolution – behind the headlines. From the 2011 overthrow of a 30-year dictator, through military rule, and culminating with the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood president in the summer of 2013.
First runner up is Alanis Obomsawin’s HI-HO MISTAHEY! and the second runner up is Leanne Pooley’s BEYOND THE EDGE.
NETPAC AWARD
The NETPAC Award for World or International Asian Film Premiere went to Anup Singh’s QISSA.
GROLSCH FILM WORKS DISCOVERY AWARD
The award went to Gia Milani for ALL THE WRONG REASONS.
RBC EMERGING FILMMAKERS COMPETITION
Christoph Rainer for REQUIEM FOR A ROBOT.
Honorable mentions went to Dan Popa for TALES OF SANTA FE and Kevan Funk for DESTROYER.