Abrahamson clinches top Toronto film prize

“We shot the film in 40 to 45 days… mostly in Goa and some in Mumbai”, she said.

The 25-year-old actress stars as Massachusetts in the upcoming emotional drama based on the book by Emma Donoghue, with Jacob taking on the role of her son Jack. Nevertheless, films like Spotlight, The Danish Girl, The Martian, Brooklyn and more were looking to launch their own campaigns with this audience award – although they are still in a fair position regardless.

The second runner up was Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight“, starring onetime Pittsburgher Michael Keaton as a member of a Boston Globe investigative team.

Sponsored by Grolsch Brewery and voted on by Festival audiences, the People’s Choice Award first place recognition comes in the form of a custom trophy accompanied by a $15,000 cash prize.

There’s plenty of Oscar buzz surrounding the film after it’s big win at the festival.

Several previous People’s Choice winners have also gone one to nab best picture at the Oscars, including “12 Years a Slave“, “The King’s Speech” and “Slumdog Millionaire”.

The Toronto worldwide Film Festival has finished off its yearly ten-day keep running with a ritzy grants early lunch, which feiatured the celebration’s declaration different honors and prizes.

Meghna Gulzar, another woman director, screened her film “Guilty” (Talvar) which resonated well with Toronto audiences and critics.

However, recent history at Toronto is rather favorable for Room after this win. “Besides that, it has one of the best film markets and a great cinema-loving population”, said Nalin, who has directed films like Samsara and Valley of Flowers.

The first ever Toronto Platform Prize went to HURT, a documentary about disgraced former national hero Steve Fonyo, who ran across Canada to raise funds for cancer research, despite having lost a leg.

The People’s Choice award for best Midnight Madness sidebar title went to Ilya Naishuller’s Hardcore, a U.S.-Russia co-production, while the top audience award for best documentary was picked up by Evgeny Afineevsky’s Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight For Freedom.

A Jake Gyllenhaal drama about a grieving banker on Thursday kicked off the Toronto worldwide Film Festival, which this year includes topical movies on transgender youth and gay rights among the usual Oscar hopefuls.