British director Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” has won the Toronto film festival’s top audience prize, it was announced Sunday.
Last year’s winner in this category was David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Handbook,” which went on to Oscar glory and box-office success.
Stephen Frears’ “Philomena,” starring Judi Dench, and Denis Villeneuve’s “Prisoners,” co-starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, were first and second runners-up.
All three pictures were also well received by critics, thus emerging as top contenders for the upcoming Oscars in various categories.
