TIFF People’s Choice Award winners who went on to win Oscars

The Toronto International Film Festival and the Academy Awards are the two most prestigious celebrations of outstanding cinema worldwide. 

TIFF is one of the largest attended film festivals in the world. It was founded in 1976, with a mission, “to transform the way people see the world through films”. The Academy Awards better known as Oscars are awarded for artistic and technical merit in American and international industry. 

A semi-autobiographical movie of Steven Spielberg‘s formative years as a budding filmmaker, The Fabelmans won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival 2022. 

TIFF People’s Choice Award is an annual film award presented to the film rated as the year’s most popular film with festival audiences. The award is one of the first indicators for a film heading towards Dolby Theatres. 

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Here is a list of the TIFF People’s Choice Award winners who went on to win Oscars. 

1.   Slumdog Millonaire (2008)

Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama movie that is an adaptation of the novel Q & A by Indian author Vikas Swarup. Written by Simon Beaufoy and directed by Danny Boyle, the movie won TIFF People’s Choice Award in 2008. The movie was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 2009 and won eight, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. 

2. American Beauty (1999)

People’s Choice Award winner American Beauty had its Canadian premiere at the Film Festival in 1999. The movie was directed by Sam Mendes. At the 72nd Academy Awards, the film won Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. 

Also Read: The Fabelmans trailer: Boy with movie camera shows Spielberg’s love for film

3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia movie directed by Ang Lee and written by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Kuo Jung Tsai. The movie won the TIFF People’s Choice Award and got nominated for ten Academy Awards. It ended up winning four: Best Foreign Language, Best Art Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score. 

4.  Chariots of Fire (1981)

The historical sports drama movie is directed by Hugh Hudson, written by Colin Welland, and produced by David Puttnam. The movie won the TIFF People’s Choice Award in 1981 and got nominated for seven Academy Awards. It won four including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Score. 

5. Life is Beautiful (1997)

The movie won TIFF People’s Choice Awards in 1998 and was nominated for seven Academy Awards. It won three: Best Actor, Best Foreign Language, and Best Original Score. 

6. The Kings Speech (2010)

The Kings Speech is a British historical drama movie directed by Tom Hooper and written by David Seidler. The movie received 12 Oscar nominations at the 83rs Academy Awards and won four. 

7. 12 Years A Slave (2013)

The movie is a 2013 biographical drama directed by Steven McQueen. At the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave received the People’s Choice Award. The movie received nine nominations, winning for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor. 

Also Read: The Fabelmans: Why Spielberg found making film a ‘daunting experience’

8. Nomadland (2020)

The American drama movie is written, produced, edited, and directed by Chloe Zhao. At the 93rd Academy Awards, it won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress, from six nominations.