Home ›› 20 Sep 2022 ›› Show Biz
Steven Spielberg’s deeply personal new movie ‘The Fabelmans’ secured its position as an early Oscars frontrunner Sunday by winning the top prize (People’s Choice Award) at the Toronto International Film festival.
‘The Fabelmans,’ out in theatres in November, is a semi-autobiographical drama based on Spielberg’s childhood, covering his parents’ troubled marriage, anti-Semitic bullying and his early efforts directing zero-budget movies with his teenage friends.
It earned a raucous standing ovation from the audience at its world premiere last weekend at the Toronto festival, known as TIFF.
“As I said on stage the other night, above all I’m glad I brought this film to Toronto,” Spielberg said in a statement Sunday.
“This is the most personal film I’ve made and the warm reception from everyone in Toronto made my first visit to TIFF so intimate and personal for me and my entire ‘Fabelman’ family.”
Voted for by audiences, the People’s Choice Award at North America’s biggest film festival has become something of an early Oscars bellwether, predicting eventual Academy Award best-picture winners such as ‘Nomadland’ in 2020.
Spielberg, considered one of Hollywood’s greatest living directors, has won three Academy Awards: best picture and best director for ‘Schindler’s List,’ and best director again for ‘Saving Private Ryan.’
He has been nominated for 19 Oscars to date, and will be expected to add to that tally next year.
