Title: American Fiction Wins Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award, Sets Sights on Oscars
Toronto, Canada – In a highly anticipated event at the Toronto International Film Festival, Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction emerged as the winner of the prestigious People’s Choice award. The film, which explores the struggles faced by black writers within the publishing industry, is now poised for serious Oscar consideration and has become a strong contender for major awards.
Starring the talented Jeffrey Wright as a novelist grappling with the industry’s expectations of black writers, American Fiction impressed audiences and critics alike with its incisive and thought-provoking narrative. Described by The Guardian as “hilarious and withering,” the film triumphed over other favorites including Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers and Hayao Miyazaki’s final film The Boy and the Heron, which were declared as the runners-up.
American Fiction marks Cord Jefferson’s feature film directorial debut. Jefferson, known for his work as a credited writer on popular TV shows such as The Good Place, Watchmen, and Station Eleven, has now proven his skill in the world of cinema as well.
The People’s Choice award, voted on by festival audiences, has consistently signaled future success in the awards circuit. Previous winners, such as The Fabelmans, Belfast, and Nomadland, all received Best Picture nominations at the Academy Awards, with Nomadland ultimately winning the Oscar. Notably, films like Green Book, 12 Years a Slave, and The King’s Speech, which also won the People’s Choice award, went on to secure the Best Picture Oscar.
In addition to American Fiction’s victory, other notable films were recognized at the festival. Dicks: The Musical, an adaptation of an off-Broadway musical by Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson, won the People’s Choice Midnight Madness award, while Mr Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe clinched the People’s Choice documentary award.
With its win at the Toronto International Film Festival, American Fiction has firmly established itself as a frontrunner for upcoming awards and is expected to make waves during the next awards season. As audiences eagerly await its theatrical release, the film’s biting satire and insightful exploration of the publishing industry’s racial biases have undoubtedly struck a chord with viewers and industry insiders alike.