Simon Stone’s “Elsinore” Starring Andrew Scott Wins the International People’s Choice Award at TIFF

TORONTO – Simon Stone’s film “Elsinore” has won the International People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in its 51st edition. The award was announced on Saturday, September 20, alongside the festival’s top audience award, which went to the film “La Bola Negra”.

Starring Andrew Scott in the lead role, “Elsinore” tells the true story of actor Ian Charleson, the star of “Chariots of Fire”, who faced AIDS illness while preparing to play Hamlet on the stage of London’s National Theatre. The cast also includes Olivia Colman, Billie Piper and Johnny Flynn, with the screenplay signed by Stephen Beresford.

In the audience vote ranking, second place went to “Possible Love” by director Lee Chang-dong, while third was “The Assassin(s)” by Hur Jin-ho.

The International People’s Choice Award is a new honor at TIFF, introduced only last year: its first winner, in 2025, was “No Other Choice” by Park Chan-wook. With this year’s triumph, “Elsinore” becomes only the second winner in the award’s history.

Audience recognition at one of the world’s most influential festivals places “Elsinore” among the most talked-about titles of the autumn cinema season, giving the film a strong boost ahead of awards season.

Source: The Playlist