Film Lovers Across the Country Vote Maudie and Loving Vincent The TIFF Film Circuit People’s Choice Award Winners

The votes are in and this year’s TIFF Film Circuit People’s Choice Award winners have been selected. Of the films touring the country as part of Film Circuit, TIFF’s programme bringing some of the best Canadian and international cinema to communities throughout the country, Maudie was voted Favourite Canadian Film and the groundbreaking Vincent Van Gogh biography Loving Vincent was selected Favourite International Film by thousands of Film Circuit voters.

Since 1989, Film Circuit has screened the best of Canadian and international cinema in communities across the Great White North. Currently, Film Circuit brings illuminating films and guests to over 170 locations in over 150 communities nationwide. From Blairmore, Alberta, and Flin Flon, Manitoba, to Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, TIFF Film Circuit connects Canadian communities using the power of film. Other films to hit the Film Circuit have included Their Finest, Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World, and A Man Called Ove.

“Delivering high-quality, engaging cinema is what TIFF does best,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director at TIFF. “Film Circuit extends TIFF’s reach beyond Toronto’s borders and allows us share the TIFF experience with film lovers across the country. We’re so happy we can continue to bring innovative films like Loving Vincent and challenging films like Maudie to audiences nationally. Congratulations to these titles on their recognition.”

“We’re proud of the success seen this past year by both Maudie and Loving Vincent. The feedback we have received from audiences who have loved these films has been tremendous,” said Tom Alexander, Director of Theatrical Releasing, Mongrel Media. “This acknowledgement from Film Circuit audiences nationwide is most meaningful as it signifies that these titles captivated and resonated with Canadians throughout a diverse range of backgrounds and communities, from city centres to rural regions and beyond.”

This year, Film Circuit brought programming to four new communities and welcomed 77 special guests to engage with audiences at screenings, including Maudie producer Mary Young Leckie and executive producer Heather Haldane, and Loving Vincent animator Valerie Fulford. Not only is Maudie this year’s Best Canadian Film winner, it represents Film Circuit’s highest-grossing film of all time.

Film Circuit People’s Choice Award – Favourite Canadian Film

Maudie, dir. Aisling Walsh

Canada/Ireland | 2016

Maudie tells the true story of Nova Scotian painter Maud Lewis, who overcame the physical challenge of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis to become one of Canada’s premier folk artists.

Film Circuit People’s Choice Award – Favourite International Film

Loving Vincent, dirs. Hugh Welchman and Dorota Kobiela

Poland/United Kingdom | 2017

The world’s first fully oil-painted animated feature film, Loving Vincent brings the art of Vincent Van Gogh to life to recount the life story of this most mysterious, mythical, and tragic of great painters. Shot first as a live-action film and then painted over frame-by-frame with oils, Loving Vincent is simply an extraordinary cinematic achievement.

TIFF Film Circuit People’s Choice Awards are selected by audiences across the country who vote for their favourite Canadian and international films shown at Film Circuit screenings.

For more information or to find a Film Circuit location near you, visit tiff.net/filmcircuit

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About TIFF

TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution programme Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC, L’Oréal Paris and Visa, and Major Supporters the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Toronto.

Film Circuit is presented in partnership with Telefilm Canada and is supported by the Ontario Media Development Corporation.