Steven Spielberg wins in Toronto with autobiographical film

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Spielberg at the Toronto premiere of The Fabelmans

Photo: MARK BLINCH / REUTERS

Steven Spielberg's autobiographical coming-of-age story The Fabelmans is the winning film at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

This was announced by festival director Cameron Bailey on Sunday in Toronto.

Spielberg's most personal work to date, starring Michelle Williams and Paul Dano, delighted audiences in the Canadian metropolis, which traditionally choose the winner instead of a jury.

Second place went to the drama »Women Talking« by Canadian director Sarah Polley.

The Fabelmans draws largely on the childhood of 75-year-old Spielberg and the life of his parents, played by Williams and Dano.

The film tells the story of Sam "Sammy" Fabelman, a boy who falls in love with cinema but struggles with family turmoil to pursue his dream.

At this year's ten-day film festival in Toronto, almost 260 films competed for viewers' attention.

The festival's audience award is considered a reliable indicator of which films will later go down well with large sections of the Oscars voters.

Recently, films such as »Nomadland« and »Green Book« first won the audience award and later the Oscar for best film.

The 95th Oscars will be awarded on March 12, 2023.

In Germany, »The Fabelmans« is scheduled to hit the cinemas on March 9, 2023.

hpi/dpa