As the ten-day festival drew to a close this afternoon, Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” walked off with the People’s Choice award; which anyone could have seen coming. That prize went to the Oscar-nominated “Eastern Promises” last year, “Bella” in ’06, “Tsotsi” in ’05 and “Hotel Rwanda” in ’04. Whether that is an indication of things to come (mass appreciation, wide critical praise, awards recognition…you get the picture), I’m not so sure. Not every film that wins this award makes it in the outside world in a big way. But that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the film is on the map, and people are going to see it.
Steve McQueen’s “Hunger” took the Discovery trophy, while Derick Martini’s “Lymelife” secured the FIPRESCI prize. Best Canadian film went to Rodrigue Jean’s “Lost Song.”
So if I was to come away with anything after the conclusion of Venice and Toronto, it is that I have an as-of-yet unscratchable itch to see “The Wrestler,” see The Playlist review here, and “Slumdog,” reviewed here but not by me, as soon as possible. As well as a hundred others. Other than that, I got nothing. Go figure.
This post is courtesy of our friends at Fataculture.