Toronto Film Festival 2013: '12 Years a Slave' Wins People's Choice Award

"12 Years a Slave" has won the People's Choice award at the Toronto Film Festival.

Unlike most of the other film festivals, the top prize at Toronto is chosen by the audience. Director Steve McQueen's film opened to universal praise with critics calling the movie an important and masterful work.

The runner-ups to McQueen's film were Stephen Frear's "Philomena" and Dennis Villeneuve's "Prisoners."

The People's Choice Award for Documentary went to "The Square," while the runner-ups went to "Beyond the Edge" and "Hi-Ho Mistatahey."

Meanwhile, in the Midnight Madness category "Why Don't You Play in Hell?" won the choice award and the runner-up was "Oculus Witching and [Explective]."

The Best Canadian Film award went to "Asphalt Watches," while the award for Best Canadian Short Film went to "Noah."

Several People's Choice winners have gone on to win and get nominated for Oscars. Those films have included "Precious," "Eastern Promises," "The King's Speech," "Silver Linings Playbook," "American Beauty" and "Slumdog Millionaire."

"12 Years of Slave" is one of the most anticipated films of the year and tells the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man, who is abducted and sold into slavery. The film boasts an impressive cast that includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Quvenzhane Wallis, Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lupita Nyong'o, Alfre Woodward and Brad Pitt. The R-rated film will be distributed by Fox Searchlight and will next appear at the New Orleans, New York and Hamptons Film Festivals. The movie opens in October in limited release before expanding into wide release.

Complete list of winners:

People's Choice Award:
"12 Years a Slave"
Runners-up: "Philomena" and "Prisoners"

People's Choice Award For Documentary:
"The Square"
Runners-up: "Beyond the Edge" and "Hi-Ho Mistahey"

People's Choice Award For Midnight Madness:
"Why Don't You Play In Hell?"
Runners-up: "OCULUS" and "Witching and [Explective]"

Best Canadian Feature Film:
"When Jews Were Funny"

Best Canadian First Feature Film:
"Asphalt Watches"

Prizes of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Special Presentations Section:
"Ida"

Prizes of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Discovery Section:
"The Amazing Catfish"

NETPAC Award For Best Asian Film:
"Qissa"

Award For Best Canadian Short Film:
"Noah"

The Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award:
"All The Wrong Reasons"