The 51st Toronto International Film Festival came to a close Sunday with the announcement of its 2026 award winners, led by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s “La Bola Negra,” which received the festival’s top People’s Choice Award.
TIFF revealed the winners during a live press conference at TIFF Lightbox, concluding an 11-day festival that presented 294 films from 72 countries. More than 800 talent attended across 98 red carpets, while TIFF welcomed 2,000 accredited media, nearly 7,000 TIFF: The Market delegates and 279 directors from around the world.
The People’s Choice Award, voted on by TIFF audiences, has long been one of the festival’s most closely watched honors and an early indicator of films that may remain part of the conversation through the fall awards season. This year, “La Bola Negra” finished ahead of Peter Farrelly’s “I Play Rocky,” which was named first runner-up, and Siân Heder’s “Being Heumann,” the second runner-up.
The audience awards now span four categories. Simon Stone’s “Elsinore” won the International People’s Choice Award, 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” earned the People’s Choice Documentary Award, with James Marcus Haney’s “Black Sunflowers” and Mila Aung-Thwin’s “The Ultra Runner” finishing as the first and second runners-up, respectively.
On the genre side, Matthew Rankin’s “Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney” took the People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award. Paolo Strippoli’s “The Spiral” was the first runner-up, while SABU’s “Arrested Memory” finished second.
Another major winner was Theja Rio’s “Angh,” which received the TIFF Platform Prize and its $20,000 CAD award. The Platform program, launched in 2015 to recognize filmmakers with distinctive directorial visions, expanded to 12 films this year. The international jury was led by Pablo Trapero and also included Amma Asante, Sylvia Chang, Luc Déry and Albert Lee.
The prize carries additional significance beginning this year. TIFF’s Platform Prize is now one of six international festival awards offering a direct pathway to the Oscars, with a non-English-language winner receiving direct eligibility for Best International Feature Film. The jury praised “Angh” for its “refreshing perspective” and the “vision, audacity and courage” of its filmmaker. Amanda Kernell’s “Brace Your Heart (Garrat Du Váimmu)” received the Platform Special Jury Award.
TIFF also announced three winners in its Short Cuts program. Elia Kalogianni’s “MAMMALIA” received Best International Short Film, while Michael Del Monte’s “Fight Kid” won Best Canadian Short Film. Varun Raman and Tom Hancock’s “Into The Betaverse” was named Best Animated Short Film. Each of the three winning films receives a $10,000 CAD bursary.
The International Federation of Film Critics awarded its FIPRESCI Prize to David Turpin’s “Ancestors.” The award recognizes an emerging filmmaker whose debut feature makes its world premiere in TIFF’s Discovery program. The jury praised Turpin’s film for its handling of memories and recollections and its “compassionate cinematic language.”
Hosam Abu Dan’s “Thirteen in Gaza” received the NETPAC Award. Presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Pacific Cinema, the prize recognizes the best Asian film by a first- or second-time feature director.
Canadian filmmakers were also recognized across two feature categories. Cody Lightning’s “Smudge the Blades” won the Best Canadian Discovery Award, which honors first- and second-time filmmakers. Yuula Benivolski’s “The Black Box is Orange” received an honorable mention.
Serville Poblete’s “Sunburn” was named Best Canadian Feature Film, with the jury praising the film’s performances, ensemble and “fresh, visceral energy.” Adrian Buitenhuis’ “Man in Motion: The Rick Hansen Story” received an honorable mention. Both the Best Canadian Discovery and Best Canadian Feature Film winners receive $10,000 CAD.
The awards bring to a close the 51st edition of TIFF, which ran September 10 through September 20. The festival will return next year, with the 52nd Toronto International Film Festival scheduled for September 9 through September 19, 2027.