Precious
Precious scooped the top award at the Toronto Film Festival on Saturday (19Sep09).
The movie, a gritty drama produced by talk show host Oprah Winfrey and featuring singer Mariah Carey, was honored with the People's Choice award at the annual event in Canada.
Director Lee Daniels says, "I made this film for every person out there who ever looked in the mirror and felt unsure about the person looking back. This is not an art film for a select few. This is a movie that everyone can relate to."
Last year's (08) People's Choice award was won by Slumdog Millionaire - which went on to sweep the board at the Oscars and Golden Globes earlier this year (09).
In more Tornoto new Drew Barrymore infuriated organisers at the film festival after failing to show at a press event for her directorial debut Whip It.
The star skipped the scheduled press junket for the upcoming roller derby movie at the Canadian festival at the weekend (begs19Sep09), aggravating event chiefs and waiting reporters.
Barrymore reportedly blamed a sore throat for the absence. However, U.S. reports suggest the actress was unwell after partying too hard at the star-studded festival earlier in the week.
A source tells the New York Post, "They had a press junket for Whip It at the Park Hyatt, and Drew completely bailed. The reason she cancelled is supposedly because she lost her voice."
Tagged in Toronto Film Festival