Cord Jefferson’s electrifying masterpiece, ‘American Fiction,’ has ignited the Toronto International Film Festival, securing the coveted People’s Choice Award and igniting its meteoric ascent toward the Oscars.

This year’s TIFF was nothing short of an epic journey, with the festival facing the tempestuous winds of the writers’ and actors’ strikes that caused some heavyweight contenders to bypass their Canadian premieres. But ‘American Fiction’ has emerged as a triumphant phoenix, ready to soar to Oscar glory.

In the annals of cinema history, TIFF’s People’s Choice Award has often been a herald of cinematic greatness. Previous victors like ‘Green Book,’ 12 Years a Slave,’ and ‘Nomadland‘ have ascended to the pinnacle of Academy Awards glory. Even those that didn’t clinch the Best Picture Oscar, such as ‘Belfast,’ ‘La La Land,’ ‘Jojo Rabbit,’ and last year’s ‘The Fabelmans,’ still danced among the stars as Best Picture nominees.

This category, born in 1978, has proven itself a harbinger of Hollywood’s finest. Seven recipients of the People’s Choice Award have ascended to claim the Oscar for Best Picture, with a staggering five of these victories occurring in just the past two decades.

But ‘American Fiction’ isn’t the only star in this cinematic galaxy. Alexander Payne’s hilarious boarding school drama, ‘The Holdovers,’ stood as the first runner-up, while Hayao Miyazaki’s animated gem, ‘The Boy and the Heron,’ took the honorable position of second runner-up.

In the realm of Midnight Madness, “Dicks: The Musical,” a raucous satire by the genius behind ‘Borat,’ Larry Charles, emerged victorious, ready to unleash its wild charm. A24 will soon unleash this gem for the world to enjoy. Right behind was Nikhil Nagesh Bhat’s “Kill,” and “Hell of a Summer,” a co-creation of Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk, taking the first and second runner-up spots.

For the documentary aficionados, Robert McCallum’s heartwarming “Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe” won the hearts of the audience. It’s a touching tribute to the beloved children’s entertainer, Ernie Coombs. Jen Markowitz’s “Summer Qamp” and Lucy Walker’s “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa” found their worthy places as first and second runner-ups in the non-fiction category.

The platform program, under the discerning eye of an international jury including talents like Barry Jenkins, Anthony Shim, and Nadine Labaki, saw the unanimous choice of Tarsem Singh Dhandwar’s “Dear Jassi” as the pinnacle of cinematic excellence. With a $20,000 prize to boot, this true-life Romeo and Juliet tale was celebrated for its craft, purpose, and unwavering faith in its audience.

And let’s not forget the incredible homegrown talent. Sophie Dupuis’ enchanting love story set in the dazzling drag scene, “Solo,” was proudly named the best Canadian feature film.

‘American Fiction’ set hearts ablaze at TIFF, earning accolades and praise that echoed like thunder across the festival. Jeffrey Wright’s portrayal of a college professor who unwittingly becomes a literary sensation with an outrageously stereotypical book about Black life left audiences spellbound.

Cord Jefferson, known for his work on ‘Succession’ and ‘Watchmen,’ stepped into the director’s chair for the first time, crafting a screenplay based on Percival Everett’s 2001 novel, ‘Erasure.’ MGM is set to unleash this cinematic marvel upon the world this year.

Indeed, this year’s Toronto International Film Festival shone with a more understated brilliance, with fewer red carpets and extravagant premieres. Many stars opted to stay away, given the ongoing strike. However, TIFF still showcased remarkable films like ‘Dumb Money,’ delving into the GameStop stock saga, and ‘Woman of the Hour,’ a riveting crime drama directed by none other than Anna Kendrick, which Netflix acquired for a staggering $11 million.