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By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
Winning the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival is a major feather in the cap for any film — and, for many, the launching pad for even loftier goals. Indeed, five went on to win best picture at the Academy Awards.
Chariots of Fire (1981): This true story about two Olympic athletes, one a devout Christian running for God, the other an English Jew running to overcome prejudice, in the 1924 Games won best picture at the 54th Academy Awards. A few months before receiving that statue it premiered at TIFF and took home the audience award. The film’s legacy, and particularly its theme song (which earned composer Vangelis an Oscar), endures to this day.
American Beauty (1999): Screenwriter Alan Ball‘s family drama about a depressed suburban father (Kevin Spacey) who suffers a mid-life crisis after developing an infatuation on his teenage daughter’s best friend, was a big hit at TIFF. Winning the audience award was just the beginning of the film’s run, as it went on to win 5 Academy Awards, including best picture, best director (Sam Mendes), best actor (Spacey), and best screenplay (Ball).
Slumdog Millionaire (2008): Director Danny Boyle told the story of Jamal (Dev Patel, a Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums but found his way onto the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire and managed to answer all the questions thanks to his unique life experience. The film premiered at Toronto and was honored with the audience award which eventually led to 8 Oscars, including best director for Boyle and, of course, best picture.
The King’s Speech (2010): The film centers on King George VI‘s (Colin Firth) ascension to the throne and the subsequent speech therapy he underwent to correct a stutter which was impeding his address of his kingdom. After a Toronto premiere and audience award win, it was a string of Oscar wins, four in total, which included best picture, best actor for Firth, and best directing for Tom Hooper.
12 Years a Slave (2013): The adaptation of Solomon Northup‘s harrowing account of abduction and slavery in the 1800’s South received ecstatic reactions from audiences when it premiered in Toronto in 2013. It was no surprise, then, when it won the audience award and proceeded to rake in three Oscars, including best picture and best supporting actress award for Lupita Nyong’o.
