After hundreds of films, 1058 screenings, a dozen or more sleepless nights, and some errant predictions, the TIFF awards and People's Choice winner have been revealed at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.  

The People's choice award, supported this year by Rogers Communications, has been a strong indicator of Oscar gold, with last year's strike-affected slate garnering the winning film American Fiction's scribe Cord Jefferson a trophy for best screenplay. Separate awards for both Documentary and Midnight Madness are also voted upon.

The Platform Prize is given to a film of "high artistic merit that also demonstrate a strong directorial vision" chosen from a slate of 10 films specially designated for consideration by the jury.

This year's Platform jury consisted of legendary local filmmaker Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter), along with Hur Jin-ho (A Normal Family at this year's fest) from Korea, and Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow) from the U.S.A.

The other awards can also be career changing, with cash prizes meant to help filmmakers continue to tell their stories with a bit of a financial bump.

Here are the award winners for TIFF 2024.

People's Choice Award

This award goes to Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck, with runners up, the Cannes big hitters Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard and Sean Baker's Palme-winning Anora.

As is traditional, the People's Choice winner, The Life of Chuck, will screen for free (tickets on a first come basis) at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Sunday, Sept. 15) at the Scotiabank Theatre near John and Richmond in the Entertainment District.

The Documentary prize was awarded to The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal, with runners up Will and Harper and Your Tomorrow. The Midnight Madness prize goes to The Substance, with runners up Friendship and Dead Talents Society.

Platform Prize

The $20,000 platform prize was presented to Carlos Marques-Marcet's dance/musical/drama They Will Be Dust. The jury gave a special mention to Daughter's Daughter, highlighting the performance by legendary Taiwanese actress Sylvia Chang.

The Best Canadian Feature award

This Canada Goose sponsored prize doles out $10,000 to a filmmaker who has made three or more feature films, with a jury that included fest director Estrella Araiza, Toronto filmmaker Chelsea McMullan, and Japanse/Canadian artist and filmmaker Randall Okita.

This year's winner is Sophie Deraspe's sheepish Shepherds.

The Best Canadian Discovery award

Another Canada Goose sponsored prize from the same jury as above, this one provides $10,000 to an emerging filmmaker who making their debut or second film. This year's winner is Universal Language (Canada's Oscar pick!) , with an honourable mention for You Are Not Alone.

Fipresci Prize

This international film critic prize, selected from the Discovery first feature slate, goes to Mother Mother with stars Somali Canadian artist and rapper K’naan Warsame.

Shortcuts

Each winner for the best short film receives a a bursary of $10,000 from a jury comprised of Luis De Filippis, Micah Kernan and Shane Smith.

The best Canadian short goes to Are You Scared To Be Yourself Because You Think That You Might Fail?. The best international short prize was presented to Deck 5B, with an honourable mention for Quota.

Netpac Award

This year's jury for a selection that focuses on the first or second films drawn from Asian filmmakers is awarded to the documentary The Last of the Sea Women.

Next year's festival, celebrating its 50th annivesary, runs from September 4-14, 2025.