The Spanish film *La Bola Negra* directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 21, 2026. The film, which explores the interconnected lives of three gay men in Spain, has garnered early recognition often seen as a predictor of future Academy Award contention.

Another significant honor went to *Angh*, directed by Theja Rio, which received the Platform Award along with a $20,000 prize. The film tells the story of the last surviving chief of a Nagaland village located on the Indo-Burma border. This year marks the first time the Platform Award grants a direct pathway to Oscar consideration. Previously, the Academy accepted only one submission per country for the Best International Feature category, but the eligibility criteria were expanded to include winners of certain international festival awards. *Angh* qualifies because it is primarily in Konyak, fulfilling the requirement that more than half of the dialogue be in a language other than English.

In the Canadian film categories, the Best Canadian Discovery prize was presented to Cody Lightning for his second feature, *Smudge the Blades*. During his acceptance speech, Lightning spoke emotionally about his recent loss, dedicating the award to his late mother, who was also a filmmaker. “I get my humour from my dad, I get my storytelling from my mom,” he said.

*Sunburn* by Serville Poblete was awarded Best Canadian Feature. This coming-of-age story follows a group of youths from Toronto’s Bleecker Street and explores themes of identity and community.

Additional winners in the People’s Choice program included *Elsinore* by Simon Stone, which took the International People’s Choice Award; *Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney* in the Midnight Madness category; and Barry Avrich’s documentary *Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been*. The selections reflect a diverse array of voices and storytelling styles featured at this year’s festival in Toronto.