According to official festival announcements, the Toronto International Film Festival concluded its 11-day run with an awards ceremony where Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s epic “La Bola Negra” won the coveted People’s Choice Award, positioning the Netflix title directly into the heart of the film awards season.
How the TIFF People’s Choice Award Predicts Oscar Contenders
Winning the top prize in Toronto carries major statistical weight for upcoming academy races. According to festival data, 13 of the last 16 People’s Choice Award winners at TIFF went on to receive Academy Award nominations for Best Picture. Furthermore, four of those winners—specifically “The King’s Speech,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Green Book,” and “Nomadland”—ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
This year’s victor, “La Bola Negra,” arrives in North America following a smash hit debut out of its Cannes premiere, according to festival reports. The film beat out strong competition, with Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky” taking first runner-up and Sian Heder’s “Being Heumann” securing second runner-up in the main category.
Did you know? Last year, “Hamnet” filmmaker Chloé Zhao made history at TIFF by becoming the first director to win the People’s Choice Award twice.
Expanded Audience and Juried Winners at the 2026 Festival
Beyond the main category, the festival handed out wins across multiple audience and juried slates. According to official records, the People’s Choice Documentary Award went to Barry Avrich’s “Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been,” with James Marcus Haney’s “Black Sunflowers” as first runner-up and Mila Aung-Thwin’s “The Ultra Runner” as second runner-up.
In the Midnight Madness section, Matthew Rankin’s “Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney” captured the top audience prize. Paolo Strippoli’s “The Spiral” took first runner-up, while SABU’s “Arrested Memory” claimed second runner-up. Meanwhile, the International People’s Choice Award went to Simon Stone’s “Elsinore,” followed by Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love” and Hur Jin-ho’s “The Assassins.”
Platform Prize and Canadian Feature Highlights
According to festival press releases, the Platform Prize—which is the festival’s sole juried programme—was awarded to Theja Rio’s “Angh” from India, accompanied by a $20,000 CAD prize. The international five-member jury, led by President Pablo Trapero alongside Amma Asante, Sylvia Chang, Luc Déry, and Albert Lee, praised the film for its refreshing perspective and audacity. Amanda Kernell’s “Brace Your Heart” received an honorable mention from the Platform jury.
In the domestic categories, Serville Pobletel’s “Sunburn” won the Best Canadian Feature Film Award, while Adrian Buitenhuis’s “Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story” received an honorable mention. Cody Lightning’s “Smudge the Blades” won the Best Canadian Discovery Award, with Yuula Benivolski’s “The Black Box Is Orange” taking the honorable mention.
Short Cuts and International Critics Prizes
The Short Cuts awards distributed $10,000 CAD bursaries to category winners selected by jurors Joecar Hanna, Chris Lavis, and Iris Ng. According to festival documentation, Elia Kalogianni’s “Mammalia” won Best International Short Film, Michael Del Monte’s “Fight Kid” won Best Canadian Short Film, and Varun Raman and Tom Hancock’s “Into the Betaverse” took Best Animated Short Film.
Additional honors included the NETPAC Award going to Hosam Abu Dan’s “Thirteen in Gaza,” and the FIPRESCI Prize for an emerging filmmaker going to David Turpin’s “Ancestors.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the top People’s Choice Award at TIFF?
“La Bola Negra,” directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, won the overall People’s Choice Award.
How many films were presented at the festival?
According to TIFF organizers, the 11-day festival presented 294 films originating from 72 countries.
What does winning the Platform Prize mean for a film?
According to festival rules, winning the Platform Prize grants a non-English-language film direct eligibility for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards.
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