With early reviews calling it Spielberg's most emotional movie yet, The Fabelmans' win at the Toronto International Film Festival makes it a front-runner in the 2023 Oscar race. Inspired by the director's childhood experiences, The Fabelmans follows a young filmmaker growing up in post-World War II Arizona.
Since it was founded in 1976, The Toronto International Film Festival has become one of the most popular and influential stops on the awards circuit, with its competing films frequently ending up nominated for Academy Awards. Of the films that have won its top prize, the People's Choice Award, here are the ones that won Best Picture.
Chariots Of Fire (1981)
Based on a true story, Chariots Of Fire focuses on two startlingly different British runners aspiring to compete in the 1924 Olympics: a devout Scottish Christian racing for God and an English Jewish man racing to break prejudicial barriers. While they find themselves at odds while training, each dealing with personal strife, they unite under the British flag to bring home the gold.
Until its win at TIFF, Chariots Of Fire enjoyed success at the British box office, with a limited run in the U.S. However, following its Canadian victory, Chariots Of Fire went on to win Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes and four Academy Awards and became the highest-grossing film import into the U.S. of all time.
American Beauty (1999)
The directorial debut of Sam Mendes (Revolutionary Road, Skyfall, 1917), American Beauty tells the story of an advertising executive who, in the middle of a midlife crisis, becomes infatuated with his daughter's friend. It stars Annette Bening, Mena Suvari, and Wes Bentley in one of his best roles, among others.
Due to its controversial subject matter, American Beauty was not an immediate favorite on the awards circuit. However, thanks to its win at TIFF and an aggressive promotional campaign, the film gained enough of a boost to take home a Best Drama Golden Globe and then five Academy Awards.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Adapted from the novel Q & A by Indian author Vikas Swarup, Slumdog Millionaire unravels the tale of 18-year-old Jamal Malik, a game-show winner accused of cheating due to his upbringing in the slums. By telling the police his life story, Jamal reveals how he was able to answer each contest question correctly.
The film's first win on the awards circuit was at TIFF, giving it the momentum to become a sleeper hit and then a worldwide box office phenomenon. Despite some Indian critics who found the film unrealistic and inauthentic to Indian culture, Slumdog Millionaire was generally praised internationally and won over 100 awards and eight Academy Awards.
The King’s Speech (2010)
Starring Colin Firth in one of his best roles, The King's Speech depicts the true story of King George VI, who takes the throne following his brother's shocking abdication. Thanks to George's stammer, the transition is not an easy one, with the new King relying on an unconventional speech therapist to help him declare war on Germany.
Following a standing ovation, The King's Speech won at TIFF and continued that success as it made its way through award season, picking up several regional prizes. The film was lauded for its historical accuracy, and after winning the Golden Globe for Best Drama Film, The King's Speech won four Academy Awards.
12 Years A Slave (2013)
Accounted from Solomon Northup's memoir, 12 Years A Slave tracks the journey of a free Black violinist who is kidnapped and sold into slavery after being tricked into thinking he's on his way to a job. Never giving up, Northup fights from plantation to plantation to regain his freedom.
Publicly premiering at TIFF after private screenings at the Telluride and New York Film Festivals, the film received rave reviews following its win in Toronto. Though it didn't win the top prizes at many other festivals, a Golden Globe for Best Drama sealed the deal for 12 Years A Slave's three Oscar wins, including the first-ever win by a Black producer (Steve McQueen).
Green Book (2018)
Based on interviews with the film's subjects, Green Book follows the Black American pianist, Don Shirley, and his Italian-American driver, Tony Lip, as they travel through the Midwest and Deep South for Shirley's tour. While they clash at first, they come to respect and befriend each other as the tour progresses.
Starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in one of his best roles, the film premiered at TIFF, winning the People's Choice Award and becoming an early front-runner. Despite criticism that the film took liberty with the closeness of Shirley and Lip's relationship and that it simplified race relations of the time, the film persevered and won three Academy Awards.
Nomadland (2020)
Set in the American West, Nomadland follows Fern, a widow who sells her belongings and moves into a van after the factory she works at is shut down. Coming up against the challenges of life on the road, Fern learns how to live differently as she handles the fallout from her past.
After winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Nomadland won the top prize at TIFF a week later. With a momentum that never slowed and limited competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nomadland won over 200 awards and three Oscars.