Hamnet takes top prize as Toronto International Film Festival 2025 reveals winners
Chloé Zhao’s drama leads major awards at TIFF’s milestone 50th edition
The 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled its full list of winners, with Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao, emerging as the standout of the event’s landmark 50th edition.
The film claimed the prestigious People’s Choice Award, one of the festival’s most closely watched honours and often seen as a strong indicator of future Oscar success.
Hamnet leads a strong lineup of contenders
Zhao’s Hamnet topped a competitive field that included high-profile releases from some of cinema’s biggest names. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein finished as runner-up, while Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery secured third place.
The win reinforces Zhao’s reputation as a major force in contemporary filmmaking, following her previous awards success in recent years.
International and documentary winners highlight global reach
TIFF also spotlighted international cinema with the International People’s Choice Award, introduced in recent editions to recognize films from outside North America.
This year’s award went to No Other Choice, directed by Park Chan-wook. Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value and Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound followed in second and third place, respectively.
In the documentary category, The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, directed by Barry Avrich, took top honours, while Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert and Nick Davis’ You Had to Be There rounded out the top three.
Midnight Madness and audience favorites
Among TIFF’s more genre-focused awards, the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award went to Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, directed by Matt Johnson.
Other standout titles in the category included Obsession and The Furious, reflecting the festival’s continued embrace of bold and unconventional storytelling.
A key stop on the road to awards season
TIFF has long been considered a major launching pad for awards contenders, with its audience-driven prizes often signaling films that will dominate the months ahead.
With Hamnet leading the winners list, industry watchers are already positioning the film as a strong contender for upcoming major awards.
As the curtain closes on TIFF 2025, the festival once again demonstrated its global influence—celebrating a diverse mix of storytelling while setting the tone for the next chapter in the awards season.
Aila Kenuak
My name is Aila Kenuak, a proud Indigenous writer from the rugged coastlines of Newfoundland and Labrador. I come from a community where stories are carried through generations—spoken, remembered, and deeply felt. My work is rooted in those traditions, shaped by the land, the ocean, and the resilience of our people.
To the readers of Toronto Union 24, I write with a commitment to truth, clarity, and connection. Whether covering breaking developments or long-form stories, I aim to bring voices forward that are too often overlooked. Canada is vast and diverse, and every story deserves to be told with respect and depth.
Thank you for reading, listening, and staying informed.
Advertise With Toronto Union 24
Reach over 500,000 engaged Canadian readers monthly. Premium placements available for Q2 2026.
Learn More