Great news for two important films expected to tear up the upcoming awards season.
First up is the historical 12 Years A Slave, directed by Steve McQueen, which snatched the top audience prize at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday.
The film follows Solomon Northup, (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, who is abducted and sold into slavery in the Pre-Civil War United States.
As it turns out, the winner of this award almost always goes on to win the Oscar for Best Picture. Director Steve McQueen responded to the accolade:
“At a festival that has shown so many brilliant films, I cannot be more thrilled to receive this award,” McQueen said in a statement following news of his award.
“I am deeply grateful to all the people who have worked on this film, and that their amazing work has been recognized.”
This could be great news for 12 Years A Slave, as Huffington Post points out:
Films that have won the festival’s People’s Choice honor over the last 15 years include Best Picture winners “American Beauty” (1999), “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) and “The King’s Speech” (2011), and Best Picture nominees “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000), “Precious” (2009) and last year’s “Silver Linings Playbook.”
Prisoners, starring Viola Davis and Terrence Howard, also came in third place. Considering that last year, eventual Best Picture winner Argo was selected as runner-up to Silver Linings Playbook, Prisoners is on the road to big things as well!
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter & HuffPo | Photo Credit: Fox Searchlight
