Every TIFF People's Choice Award Winner (Since 2000), Ranked

Directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, the 2006 film explores how relative strangers can make a difference in each other's lives. Once a promising international soccer player, José (Eduardo Verástegui) now works as a cook in his brother's restaurant. When waitress Nina (Tammy Blanchard) arrives late to work one morning and gets subsequently fired, José decides to reach out to her. Nina reveals she's struggling over what to do with her unexpected pregnancy. Over the course of a single day in New York City, the two connect and share details about their pasts, leading Nina to a decision about her future. 

"The melodrama and cheap theatrics of the story's off-center segments drag the whole thing down." —Tasha Robinson, Chicago Tribune

Taika Waititi adapted Christine Leunens' book Caging Skies for his 2019 dark comedy that contrasts childlike innocence with real-life horrors. The film revolves around Johannes "Jojo" Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis), a 10-year-old Hitler Youth member who has fully bought into Nazi nationalism; his buffoonish imaginary best friend is even Adolf Hitler (Waititi). Jojo finds his beliefs called into question after he discovers that his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. The film received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture Oscar nominee, but Best Adapted Screenplay was its only win. 

"Jojo Rabbit's script isn't emotionally complex enough to address the cruel realism of its world, and as the bleakness continues, the jokes fall flatter and flatter." —David Sims, The Atlantic

Directed by Nadine Labaki, Where Do We Go Now? takes place in a fictitious remote Lebanese village inhabited by both Muslims and Christians. The two groups have long lived side by side peacefully, but after a series of misunderstandings, religious tensions start to simmer amidst the village's men, despite the priest and imam's best attempts to calm things down. Hoping to prevent further violence, the village's women begin enacting some outlandish schemes to distract the men. The film became the highest-grossing Arabic-language film following its 2011 release, setting a record that Labaki surpassed with her next film, Capernaum.

"It's the sort of well-meaning fable that's ultimately more admirable than persuasive." —Mark Jenkins, NPR

On the precipice of his 1962 tour throughout the Deep South, African-American classical pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) hires Italian-American bouncer and future actor Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) to be his driver and bodyguard. The refined Don and crude Lip initially clash on the road. But as they confront hostility and racism in the segregated region, the pair gradually develop a bond based on mutual respect. Director Peter Farrelly co-wrote the 2018 biographical drama's script alongside Brian Hayes Currie and Lip's son Nick Vallelonga. Green Book won three Oscars out of five total nominations, including wins for Best Picture and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Ali.

"Green Book is an on-the-nose social commentary that is told with such craftsmanship, earnestness, and comedic expertise that you're still excited to go along for the ride." —Victor Stiff, The Playlist

Tsotsi follows a young criminal over six stressful days as he undergoes an emotional transformation. Hardened by his tough life, David (Presley Chweneyagae) now goes by the eponymous nickname and leads a gang in the Alexandra slum in Johannesburg, South Africa. One day, he hijacks a car, only for his life to change after he discovers a baby in the back seat. Directed by Gavin Hood, the 2005 film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Athol Fugard. Tsotsi earned the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film, making it the first South African film to win the award. 

"It's compelling material, even if you don't completely buy Tsotsi's transition." —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

In this whimsical tale set in the picturesque Parisian district of Montmartre, a shy young waitress dedicates herself to bringing happiness to others. Audrey Tautou stars as the quirky titular character, who has possessed a mischievous and imaginative personality ever since being home-schooled as a child. Her mission is first inspired by a box of childhood treasures, which she hopes to reunite with its owner. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the 2001 film follows how Amélie's antics improve both the lives of others and her own. Amélie received five Oscar nominations, including one for Best Foreign Language film.

"A slick, sweet, fast-paced, feel-good romantic fantasy that's fairly irresistible if you can keep your cynicism in check for a couple of hours." —Lou Lumenick, New York Post

The Imitation Game tells the story of British mathematician and cryptanalyst Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose work paved the way for the modern computer. Based on Andrew Hodges' 1983 biography Alan Turing: The Enigma, the 2014 biographical drama specifically focuses on Turing's time as a codebreaker for the British government during World War II. After being recruited by intelligence agency M16, Turing endeavors to decrypt messages from the German Enigma Machine, leading a team that features chess champions and intelligence officers. Cumberbatch earned critical praise for his performance and received one of the film's eight Oscar nominations, which also included one for Best Picture. 

"Viewers may get the sense that The Imitation Game leaves Turing's essential mysteries intact, but they will nonetheless find even the most public contours of his story ripe with drama, excitement and deeply affecting resonance." —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Director Kenneth Branagh draws inspiration from his childhood in the titular Northern Ireland city for this coming-of-age story. The 2021 film chronicles the start of The Troubles, centering the perspective of nine-year-old Buddy (Jude Hill), who lives in Belfast with his mother (Caitrí­ona Balfe), brother (Lewis McAskie), and grandparents (Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds), while his father (Jamie Dornan) works in England. As the conflict increases in violence, Buddy's working class Protestant family must make a decision about whether to leave their home or stay. Belfast's seven Oscar nominations included one for Best Picture.

"With wit, grace and a sincere affection for the town of his birth, the writer-director explores the people and stories that populated his childhood." —Matthew Anderson, CineVue

The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi revives the long-running Japanese film series centered on the eponymous warrior, which originally featured 26 films released between 1962 and 1989. Director Takeshi Kitano also stars as the popular character, bringing his own take to the blind swordsman who makes his living by gambling and giving massages. His humble demeanor belies his lethal combat skills, which the wanderer uses to protect the helpless. In this action-packed 2003 film, Zatoichi comes to the aid of a village caught in the middle of a dangerous yakuza gang war.

"More reinvention than remake, this black-humored, blood-soaked adventure is a colorful if impersonal audience pleaser done up in a showy, fluid style with a tongue-in-cheek flair." —Sean Axmaker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

This harrowing 2009 drama tells the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), an abused, illiterate, and impoverished teen growing up in 1980s Harlem. Precious is pregnant for the second time after being frequently raped by her now-absent father; she currently lives with her abusive mother (Mo'Nique). After her school principal learns of her second pregnancy, Precious is offered the chance to attend an alternative school, where a supportive teacher (played Paula Patton) inspires her to learn how to read and write. Directed by Lee Daniels, the film became a Best Picture Oscar nominee and won two out of its six total nominations, including a Best Supporting Actress win for Mo'Nique. 

"Precious can't be endorsed as entertainment: the circumstances and incidents and emotions in the film are far too dark and painful. But there is exhilaration in its daring, in its craft and in the powerhouse work of its principal actresses." —Shawn Levy, The Oregonian

Based on true events, this 2004 drama follows Paul Rusesabagina's (Don Cheadle) efforts to shelter refugees during the Rwandan genocide of the Tutsi minority ethnic group. Paul runs a luxury hotel, with the help of his wife Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo). Since the pair belong to different ethnic groups—Paul is Hutu, while Tatiana is Tutsi—their marriage draws scrutiny from local extremists. When the civil war breaks out, Paul opens the hotel to refugees from all backgrounds and must carefully navigate the dangerous situation until they can reach safety. Both Cheadle and Okonedo garnered critical praise for their performances, and each also received an Oscar nomination.

"By turns harrowing and stirring, it's a shame-inducing history lesson that never feels like a lecture." —Glenn Kenny, Premiere

In this empowering coming-of-age tale, a young Māori girl named Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) believes she is destined to be the next leader of her small village. However, tradition has long dictated that the village leader should be male, and her grandfather (Rawiri Paratene) disregards her ambitions. Pai nevertheless keeps her resolve and soon has the chance to prove everyone wrong. The 2002 drama is directed by Niki Caro and based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Witi Ihimaera. The then 13-year-old Castle-Hughes earned an Oscar nomination for her performance, making her one of the youngest nominees for the Best Actress award. 

"The film boasts a terrific newcomer in the lead role, exquisite widescreen photography and a powerful sense of place." —Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter

Based on Matthew Quick's 2008 novel of the same name, this romantic comedy-drama follows the unlikely rapport between two individuals with fragile mental health. Bradley Cooper stars as Pat Solitanohas, a recent divorcee who has recently moved back in with his parents (played by Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver) after spending eight months in a psychiatric hospital. He strikes up a strange deal with a young widow named Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence): She'll deliver a letter to his ex-wife, if he dances with her in an upcoming competition. The 2012 film received eight Oscar nominations, which included a nomination for Best Picture. Its only win was for Lawrence's performance in the Best Actress category.

"Family nuttiness, football madness, romantic obsession, and certifiable mental illness coexist happily in Silver Linings Playbook — a crazy beaut of a comedy that brims with generosity and manages to circumvent predictability at every turn." —Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

The feature directorial debut for veteran TV writer Cord Jefferson (whose sterling resume includes work on prestige shows like Succession, The Good Place, Master of None, and Station Eleven) is an adaptation of Percival Everett's 2001 novel Erasure. The satire stars Jeffrey Wright as an English professor and novelist who is frustrated that his writing isn't gaining any traction, so he decides to write a new book filled with every Black cliché he can think of—and it turns out to be a huge hit. Reviewers at TIFF lauded the film, which also stars Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, and Tracee Ellis Ross, as smart, hilarious, and insightful, and also heaped praise on Wright's performance.

"With American Fiction, Cord Jefferson crafts a hilarious and withering satire about an African American novelist chafing against an industry that limits Black storytelling to trauma and poverty narratives." -Radheyan Simonpillai, The Guardian

This 2007 crime drama marks Viggo Mortensen's second collaboration with director David Cronenberg. He stars as Nikolai Luzhin, a driver for a notorious Russian crime family in London led by the charismatic but brutal Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl). But the driver finds his loyalties tested after encountering the empathetic midwife Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), who's on a dangerous mission. After a teenager died giving birth, Anna hopes to track down her baby's family and find answers, with the help of a Russian-language diary that pointed to Semyon's organization. Mortensen's performance earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. 

"An icily seductive parable about family, power, unconventional justice and the perils of answered prayers." —Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide Magazine

Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), a teenager competing on an Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and just one question away from winning the top prize. But when the police suspect him of cheating, Jamal must prove his innocence by recounting his childhood as an orphan from the slums of Mumbai. As he shares how his past connects to each correct answer, his true intentions for going on the show become clear. Directed by Danny Boyle with Loveleen Tandan as co-director, the 2008 film won eight Oscars out of 10 nominations, including Best Picture.

"This is Boyle's fullest, most satisfying work and an audience-pleaser that deserves to be a big hit." - William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Stephen Spielberg waited until 2022 to launch one of his movies in Toronto for the first time, and the result was terrific reviews and the fest's top award. The director's first screenplay credit in 21 years—shared with his longtime collaborator, Tony Kushner—results in Spielberg's most personal film to date: a semi-autobiographical tale centering on an aspiring teenage filmmaker and his family in 1950s Arizona. The positive reception for The Fabelmans in Toronto made the film an instant frontrunner to take home the Best Picture Oscar (something it ultimately failed to do, though the film did collect seven total Academy Award nominations).

"The warm, witty Fabelmans is Spielberg at his most revealing, and watching him reflect on his past is downright extraordinary." —Christopher Schobert, The Film Stage

In this heart-wrenching 2015 drama, Brie Larson stars as Joy, a young woman who was abducted as a teenager and has since been held captive in a small, cramped room. She tries her best to shield her five-year-old son Jack (Jacob Tremblay) from the horrors of their situation. As he grows more curious, the increasingly desperate Joy plans a risky escape that introduces Jack to the outside world for the first time. Room was written by Emma Donoghue, based on her 2010 novel of the same name. Larson earned widespread praise for her performance and won the film's sole Oscar from its four total nominations, which included one for Best Picture.

"As wrenching as Room is, especially during its grim first hour, it contains an expansive sense of compassion and humanism thanks to the sensitive direction of Abrahamson." —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Frances McDormand won another Oscar for her performance in this contemplative character study from director Chloé Zhao. She stars as Fern, a widow who decides to purchase a van and live as a nomad after losing her job at a manufacturing plant. As Fern travels across the United States, she takes seasonal jobs to scrape by and shares passing connections with others on the road, some of whom are portrayed by real-life nomads. The 2020 film also won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, making Zhao the first Asian woman to win the latter award. 

"Nomadland is a beautiful and affecting film: a small scale, spare movie with a deep well of compassion at its center." —Karen Gordon, Original-Cin

Directed by Tom Hooper, The King's Speech explores the real-life friendship formed between King George VI (Colin Firth) and his unconventional speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Their professional relationship starts at the bequest of the future king's wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), who encourages him to seek treatment for the strong stammer that he has long struggled with. The 2010 historical drama also chronicles his unexpected ascendancy to the British throne after his older brother King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce) abdicated in 1936. The King's Speech won four Oscars out of 12 nominations, including a win for Best Picture and for Firth's performance. 

"It's a warm, richly funny and highly enjoyable human story that takes an intriguing sideways glance at a crucial period in 20th-century history." —Andrew O'Hehir, Salon

This darkly comedic 2017 crime drama from Martin McDonagh follows the escalating tensions between a grieving mother and her rural Missouri town's police department. Frustrated by police inaction in her daughter's rape and murder case, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) paints three billboards with an angry message targeted at Chief Bill Willoughby (Woody Harrelson). The billboards quickly attract controversy, especially inciting Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell), a racist police officer prone to violence. The film received seven total Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. The three main actors all received a nomination, with McDormand and Rockwell both taking home trophies. 

"McDormand, carrying the movie on blue-denimed shoulders, is a wonder. Every now and then, she lets us see the tiniest crack in Mildred's anger, through which something flickering shines through." —Moira Macdonald, The Seattle Times

Directed by Damien Chazelle, Best Picture Oscar nominee La La Land draws inspiration from classic musicals for its colorful cinematography and dance numbers. The 2016 romantic musical tells the bittersweet love story of aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), two artists chasing their dreams in Los Angeles. Though the pair get off to a bumpy start, they soon fall in love, while also struggling to reconcile their creative passions with their changing lives. La La Land earned 14 total Oscar nominations, tying the record for most nominations received by a single film. It won in six categories, including a win for Stone's performance. 

"Audacious, retro, funny and heartfelt, La La Land is the latest great musical for people who don't like musicals — and will slap a mile-wide smile across the most miserable of faces." —Ian Freer, Empire

In director Ang Lee's sweeping 2000 martial arts epic, unspoken love and bold passion complicate the fates of warriors in 19th century Qing dynasty China. When famous swordsman Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-fat) decides to retire, he entrusts his friend Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) to deliver his legendary sword to their benefactor. But when the sword is stolen, their quest to find it leads them to Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi), a nobleman's daughter with secret talents. The Best Picture nominee won four Oscars out of 10 total nominations and set the record for the most nominations ever received by a non-English language film—a mark later tied by 2018's Roma. 

"Ang Lee, a world-class director working at the top of his elegant form, has done something thrilling. For all the leaping action, it's the film's spirit that soars." —Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Directed by Steve McQueen, this 2013 biographical drama tells the harrowing story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), an African-American violinist who was kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery. Based on Northup's 1853 memoir, the film chronicles his struggle to survive and maintain some of his dignity amidst unimaginable cruelty. He tries and fails multiple times to send word to his family, before a chance meeting in his 12th year helps him finally regain his freedom. 12 Years a Slave earned three Oscars out of nine nominations, including a win for Best Picture, making McQueen the first Black producer to win the award. The film is currently ranked 45th on Metacritic's Best Movies of All Time list. 

"Brutal yet elegant, 12 Years a Slave is a beautifully rendered punch to the gut about the most shameful chapter in American history." —Steve Davis, Austin Chronicle