The Toronto International Film Festival gave its People’s Choice Award to “La Bola Negra,” the Spanish feature directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, as the event wrapped its 51st edition on September 20. Unlike prizes decided by a jury, this award is chosen through votes cast by festival audiences, and over the years it has often pointed to titles that go on to compete for major honors during awards season. The film stars Penelope Cruz and follows a queer story that unfolds across different periods of time.
Calvo and Ambrossi, the Spanish pair known for their films and television at home, saw their movie come out ahead of a strong field. “I Play Rocky,” directed by Peter Farrelly, finished as first runner-up, while “Being Heumann,” from Sian Heder, landed in the second runner-up spot. The outcome capped 11 days in Toronto that brought filmmakers, actors and buyers from around the world to screenings across the city.
The festival handed out audience prizes in several other categories as well. “Elsinore,” directed by Simon Stone, won the International People’s Choice Award. In the documentary field, “Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been,” directed by Barry Avrich, drew the top audience vote, with a film centered on the singer’s life and long career in music.
The Midnight Madness section, which focuses on genre and late-night programming, gave its audience award to “Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney,” directed by Matthew Rankin. The Platform Prize, one of the festival’s juried awards, went to “Angh,” an Indian feature from director Theja Rio. That honor carries 20,000 Canadian dollars and makes the film eligible for submission in the Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards, a boost for a title arriving without a major studio behind it.
Toronto has long served as an early stop on the road to the Oscars, and its audience award in particular has preceded a run of best picture nominees and winners. With this year’s ceremony now closed, attention shifts to how “La Bola Negra” and the other honored films perform as the broader awards calendar comes into focus over the coming months. Release and distribution plans for several of the titles are expected to be announced soon.
