Toronto The 51st edition of the festival came to a close this Sunday with one of the most eagerly anticipated announcements of the festival. The Black Ball, the ambitious Spanish drama directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi—known as Los Javis—was chosen by viewers as the winner of the People’s Choice Award, the Toronto International Film Festival’s top audience award.
The film arrived in Canada with a notable track record behind it. It had previously screened at the Cannes Film Festival, where its directors were recognized for their work, but Toronto added something different: here, it wasn't a professional jury that made the decision. It was the festival's audience members themselves who placed The Black Ball above the rest of the participating productions.
The film spans several decades of Spanish history and intertwines the lives of three gay men, with a central focus on Federico García Lorca and his unfinished work The Black Ball. The narrative spans different eras and uses these stories to explore identity, memory, and a part of history that remained hidden for a long time.
The result in Toronto also left two major titles right on its heels. I Play Rocky, directed by Peter Farrelly, was the runner-up, while Being Heumann, by Siân Heder, ranked second among the audience's favorites.
The Toronto award carries particular weight within the film industry. It doesn’t guarantee what will happen in the coming months, but historically, many of the films chosen by the TIFF audience have gone on to receive Oscar nominations for Best Picture. Since 2012, nearly all of the People’s Choice Award winners have gone on to receive a nomination in that category. AP News
This year's edition also featured other notable names. Elsinore, directed by Simon Stone, won the International People’s Choice Award; Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been, by Barry Avrich, won the audience award for best documentary; and Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney, directed by Matthew Rankin, won in the Midnight Madness category. Front Mezz Junkies
Among the awards decided by juries, Angh, by Indian filmmaker Theja Rio, won the Platform Prize, while Sunburn, directed by Serville Poblete, was named Best Canadian Feature Film. Smudge the Blades, by Cody Lightning, received the Best Canadian Discovery award. Awards Focus –
But the player leaving Toronto with the award that traditionally draws the most attention is The Black Ball. The movie will be released in theaters by Netflix on October 16 and it will be available on the platform on December 2, after turning the votes of Toronto viewers into one of the most significant victories of his international career. AP News
