At the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, TIFF organizers revealed that “The Life of Chuck,” an adaptation of Stephen King’s work directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Tom Hiddleston, won the People’s Choice Award at an awards ceremony on Sunday.
In the movie review, Chase Hutchinson described the film as more of a contemplation of mortality than a horror film, while also presenting a joyous celebration of life’s meaningful moments. Hutchinson likened it to Charlie Kaufman’s ‘Synecdoche, New York,’ and highlighted it as one of the finest modern adaptations of Stephen King’s work.
Unlike other renowned festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Sundance, and Venice, TIFF does not have a jury award for the best film. Instead, audience members at public screenings vote for their favorite films on the TIFF website, and the winning audience choices are announced at the close of the festival.
Historically, 12 of the past 16 People’s Choice Award winners have received Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards, with five of them – “Slumdog Millionaire,” “The King’s Speech,” “12 Years a Slave,” “Green Book,” and “Nomadland” – winning the Oscar. Before 2008, only seven out of the initial 30 TIFF winners were nominated for the Oscars, and two of them won both awards – “Chariots of Fire” and “American Beauty.”
“The Life of Chuck,” featuring Mark Hamill, Chiwitel Ejiofor, and Karen Gillian, was not initially considered a strong contender for the award. It has not been prominently featured in this year’s awards discussions, making it one of the most unexpectedly triumphant People’s Choice winners in recent years. “Emilia Perez” by Jacques Audiard and “Anora” by Sean Baker, which took the second and third spots in People’s Choice voting, are considered more likely candidates for Best Picture nominations.
Aside from the People’s Choice Awards, honors were also presented for the Midnight Madness and Documentary segments. Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” won the Midnight Madness award, while the four-part nonfiction series “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal” received the documentary prize.
Several other accolades were decided by TIFF juries. The Platform Award, which includes a $20,000 CAD prize, was bestowed upon “They Will Be Dust,” selected by a jury consisting of Atom Egoyan, Hur Jin-ho, and Jane Schoenbrun. The same jury also recognized Taiwanese actress Sylvia Chang with a special award for “Daughter’s Daughter.”
Furthermore, two Canadian films were awarded cash prizes of $10,000 CAD each. “Shepherds” received the Best Canadian Feature Film Award, while the Best Canadian Discovery Award, open to first and second films by Canadian filmmakers, went to “Universal Language.”
Additionally, the international film critics association FIPRESCI and the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema, NETPAC, also bestowed awards to “Mother Mother” and “The Last of the Sea Women,” respectively.
