Universal Pictures’ drama Green Book has won this year’s Grolsch People’s Choice Award at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.
The film, which features Academy Award winning actor Mahershala Ali and The Lord of the Rings star Viggo Mortenson, follows the story of a classical African-American pianist and his Italian American bouncer. The two form a friendship during their time together but must learn to confront the racism and hatred that swarms America in the 1960s.
TIFF’s People’s Choice Award often foreshadows results of the following year’s Academy Awards. Last year’s People’s Choice winner was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which later went on to be nominated for Best Picture and also won two acting Oscars. However, victory is not always the case for TIFF’s fan favorites as last year’s Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water, was not even considered a top favorite.
Green Book is directed by Peter Farrelly, who gained fame through his work with his brother Bobby Farrelly. The pair became known as the Farrelly brothers through their high-grossing comedy films such as There’s Something About Mary.
Peter Farrelly’s newest solo film Green Book premiered this past Tuesday and is scheduled to release on November 21, 2018. It is said to be Universal Pictures’ strongest Oscar contender this year, according to Deadline.
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