‘La La Land’ musical takes top prize at Toronto film festival

At the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, “La La Land’’, a musical tale of star-crossed lovers chasing their dreams in Hollywood, won the top prize.

The People’s Choice Award, chosen by the votes of audience members, made “La La Land” an early front-runner in the Oscar best picture race.

Other recent winners of the Toronto prize had gone on to win the top Oscar such as “Slumdog Millionaire’’, “The King’s Speech’’ and “12 Years a Slave’’.

Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, “La La Land” follows the two leads as their lives converge in poetic chaos while trying to make their dreams come true in the midst of a blossoming love affair.

“La La Land” is from 31-year-old Writer, Director Damien Chazelle, who made a splash with his 2014 film “Whiplash,” an intense study of a jazz drummer’s quest to perfection. “Whiplash” won three Oscars.

“Getting to even make this movie was a dream come true,” Chazelle, in his absence, said in the statement read at the ceremony.

“To see it connect with Toronto audiences in this way is deeply gratifying.”

Now in its 41st year, the Toronto festival ranks with Cannes and Sundance as one of the world’s top movie gatherings.

The sprawling festival, with more than 400 films screened, often serves as a launch pad for films and performances for the awards season that culminates with the Oscars.

Toronto Platform Prize winner “Jackie,” a portrayal of Jacqueline Kennedy in the aftermath of the assassination of her husband, U.S. President John F. Kennedy, directed by Pablo Larrain, was also honoured at the ceremony.

The Platform Prize is determined by a jury that this year comprised directors Brian De Palma and Mahamat-Saleh Haroun and actor Zhang Ziyi.

Zhang said “Jackie” explored the myth of the “American Camelot” and lauded its “preeminent” performance by leading woman Natalie Portman.

“Jackie” came to Toronto without a U.S. distributor, but the rights were soon acquired by Fox Searchlight, a studio that has proven to be a savvy awards season campaigner.

The People’s Choice Award for top documentary went to “I Am Not Your Negro” by Raoul Peck, which examines what it means to be black in the United States.

“Free Fire” by Ben Wheatley won The People’s Choice Award for top film in the Midnight Madness programme, which often showcases horror and offbeat films.

(Reuters/NAN)