Imitation Game takes top prize at Toronto

The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch starrer The Imitation Game won the People's Choice Award at Toronto Film Festival. The film, directed by Morten Tyldum - which had its premiere at Telluride - tells the story of mathematician and computer pioneer Alan Turing, who led the team who cracked the Enigma code in the Second World War. It will open London Film Festival next month.

The People's Choice Documentary Award was won by Beats Of The Anatoy, directed by Hajooj Kuka, which recounts the lives of Sudanese farmers and rebels.

Mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows, directed by and starring Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement and which premiered at Sundance back in January, took home the People's Choice Midnight Madness Award.

Taika Waititi in What We Do In The Shadows Photo: Kane Skennar

The FIPRESCI award from the jury of international critics, was won by Oren Moverman's story of a man trying to reconnect with his daughter - Time Out Of Mind, which stars Richard Gere.

The FIPRESCI prize for best film in the Discovery section of the festival was won by May Allah Bless France!, directed by French rapper Abd Al Malik, who adapted the story from his own autobiography.

The NETPAC award for an Asian film premiere, went to Shonali Bose's Margarita With A Straw.

The Canadian feature award went to Maxime Giroux's romance Felix and Meira, which will screen at San Sebastian Film Festival later this month.

Jeffrey St. Jules won the City of Toronto Award for best first Canadian feature with his musical Bang Bang Baby, while Randall Okita's The Weatherman And The Shadowboxer was named best Canadian short film. The inaugural award for best international short went to Australian director Sotiris Dounoukos for A Single Body.