The acclaimed Irish co-production ‘Room’ has won the People’s Choice Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, considered the festival’s major prize.
In what is a non-competitive festival, the award is voted on by audiences and is often an indication of things to come during Oscar season. ‘12 Years a Slave’, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘The King’s Speech’ all won the TIFF People’s Choice audience award and went on to win Best Film at the Oscars. Other previous winners include ‘American Beauty’ , ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ and ‘Amelie’.
‘Room’ has been a huge autumn festival hit, playing to standing ovations both in Toronto and at its world premiere in Telluride earlier this month.
The film has been hailed as a “beautifully handled adaptation” by Variety, “exquisite and heartbreaking” by HitFlix and a “triumph of independent filmmaking at its very best” by Deadline, among many other positive reviews from US publications.
Director Lenny Abrahamson said: “I am so honoured that ‘Room’ has been chosen by the TIFF audience to win the Grolsch People's choice award. The program this year was full of extraordinary films, and for such a knowledgeable, film-loving audience to choose ours as their film of the festival is something of which I will always be hugely proud. It is a testament to the incredible talent and passion of all who made this film; cast and crew and those who backed us and had faith in us from the beginning.”
Producer Ed Guiney added: “This win is a major accolade and a huge tribute to Lenny, Emma and the rest of the amazing cast and crew. Toronto is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world with more than 300 films playing over 10 days so this award gives us great momentum as we head towards our North American release next month.”
‘Room’ is produced by Element Pictures and No Trace Camping with funding from the Irish Film Board and is told through the eyes of a five year old who is held captive in a room along with his mother. The film stars Brie Larson, William H. Macy and Jacob Tremblay. Earlier this year, Filmnation Entertainment sold out all international rights to the film.
‘Room’ is directed by Lenny Abrahamson with Emma Donoghue adapting the screenplay from her own novel. The film was post-produced at Screen Scene in Dublin with Outer Limits (formerly EMC) working on Picture finishing. The creative team includes Abrahamson’s regular collaborators, editor Nathan Nugent (‘Frank’) and composer Stephen Rennicks (also ‘Frank’).
‘Room’ will be released in the US on October 16 through A24 & in Ireland & the UK on January 29. Check out the trailer below:
