The Life of Chuck, an offbeat film by writer-director Mike Flanagan, has won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
The sci-fi drama is based on the 2020 Stephen King novella and sees Tom Hiddleston as one of the actors playing the central character, accountant Charles “Chuck” Krantz.
The audience-voted prize, considered an Oscar bellwether, was announced at a morning ceremony that named Emilia Pérez and Anora as runners-up.
The People’s Choice Award for best documentary went to The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, directed by Mike Downie, while the audience award for best Midnight Madness film went to Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance.
The Best Canadian Discovery Award, worth $10,000, went to Matthew Rankin’s Universal Language, and the Best Canadian Feature Award, also worth $10,000, went to Sophie Deraspe’s Shepherds.
The Toronto International Film Festival was wrapping up on Sunday.
Last year’s People’s Choice winner, American Fiction, went on to nab five Academy Award nominations and won for best adapted screenplay.
Other notable past People’s Choice picks include best picture winners Green Book, 12 Years a Slave and The King’s Speech.
