Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s film wins top audience honour as Theja Rio’s ‘Angh’ claims Platform Prize, granting direct Academy Awards eligibility

Mercy Ejibunu

The Toronto International Film Festival has announced its 2026 award winners during a live press conference at TIFF Lightbox, capping 11 days of cinema that saw 294 films from 72 countries screened before audiences and industry delegates. Among the top honours were the People’s Choice Awards, presented by Rogers, voted on by TIFF’s public audience, and the Platform Prize, the Festival’s only juried programme.

In a historic first this year, winning TIFF’s Platform Prize grants a non-English-language film direct eligibility for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, alongside top winners from five other qualifying festivals. Theja Rio’s Angh claimed the Platform Prize, with the jury praising “its refreshing perspective, strength of filmmaking, and deeply resonant portrait of a world.” Amanda Kernell’s Brace Your Heart received the Special Jury Award.

The People’s Choice Award, presented by Rogers, went to La Bola Negra, directed by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi. Peter Farrelly’s I Play Rocky was first runner-up, with Siân Heder’s Being Heumann taking second runner-up. In the International category, Simon Stone’s Elsinore won top honours, followed by Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love and Hur Jin-ho’s The Assassin(s).

Barry Avrich’s Darlene Love: I Know Where I’ve Been won the People’s Choice Documentary Award, while Matthew Rankin’s Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney took the Midnight Madness prize. The Festival hosted over 800 talent across 98 red carpets, with 2,000 accredited media and close to 7,000 TIFF: The Market delegates in attendance.

Other winners included David Turpin’s Ancestors (FIPRESCI Prize), Hosam Abu Dan’s Thirteen in Gaza (NETPAC Award), Cody Lightning’s Smudge the Blades (Best Canadian Discovery), and Serville Poblete’s Sunburn (Best Canadian Feature Film).