Director Lenny Abrahamson’s Room won the Grolsch People’s Choice Award at the 40th Toronto International Film Festival. The independent film starring Brie Larson as a woman raising a son while both are kept captive in a small room has now gathered enough steam to be considered a serious contender in the upcoming award season, following on the footsteps of 12 Years a Slave, Slumdog Millionaire, American Beauty and The King’s Speech that emerged from the same victory as frontrunners and, ultimately, major triumphs. Brie Larson and her 8- year old co-star Jacob Tremblay are also poised to become favorites for best actress and best supporting actor. Other TIFF awards went to Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s Black that won the Discovery award, Andrew Cividino’s Sleeping Giant was chosen best Canadian first feature, and Stephen Dunn’s Closet Monster, best Canadian feature. Jonás Cuaron’s Desierto and Marko Skop’s Eva Nová shared the FRIPESCI award, while Sion Sono’s The Whispering Star won the NETPAC prize for world or international premiere. In the new competitive section Platform, a jury comprised of Claire Denis, Agnieszka Holland and Jia Zhang-ke awarded the top prize to the Canadian documentary Hurt, directed by Alan Zweig. Brazil’s Neon Bull, directed by Gabriel Mascaro, Argentina’s The Clan, directed by Pablo Trapero and China’s The Promised Land, directed by He Ping, received honourable mentions. Ana Maria Bahiana