Chloé Zhao Makes History As First Director Honoured Twice At TIFF | Details Inside

The Toronto International Film Festival has always been known as a place where audiences decide the winners. This year, history was made. On Sunday, filmmaker Chloé Zhao received the festival’s most prestigious honour, the People’s Choice Award, for her latest film Hamnet. For Zhao, the win was more than just another accolade. It marked a historic moment, making her the first director ever to win the award twice. She first earned the recognition in 2020 with Nomadland, a film that went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. With Hamnet, she has now become a record-holder at TIFF’s 50th edition.

Hamnet wins top prize

The announcement was made during the 50th edition of TIFF, where Zhao’s Hamnet was named the audience’s favourite. According

to The Hollywood Reporter, the film arrived at Toronto after screening at Venice, Telluride, and Cannes, and was met with enthusiastic reviews at its Canadian premiere.

Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel, Hamnet offers a fictionalised account of William Shakespeare’s early years, his romance, and his relationship with his wife, Agnes. Paul Mescal stars as Shakespeare, while Jessie Buckley portrays Agnes, a performance that has already drawn significant acclaim.

Acceptance speech

Accepting the award through a video message, Zhao expressed her gratitude and shared a personal reflection on the meaning of audience engagement. She said, “When I was a child, I was often lonely. I would write stories and draw manga, and I would share them online just to read people’s comments. That connection, even with strangers, made me feel less alone, and it made life feel more meaningful.”

About Hamnet

Hamnet premiered at the 52nd Telluride Film Festival and is set for a limited theatrical release in the United States and Canada on November 27, 2025, through Focus Features, before expanding nationwide on December 12, 2025. The film, which has earned positive reviews from critics, presents a fictional account of William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes as they navigate the grief of losing their 11-year-old son, Hamnet.

The cast features Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare, Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare, Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew Hathaway, Emily Watson as Mary Shakespeare, David Wilmot as John Shakespeare, Jacobi Jupe as Hamnet Shakespeare, Olivia Lynes as Judith Shakespeare, and Bodhi Rae Breathnach as Susanna Shakespeare.

Other TIFF 2025 winners

Alongside Zhao’s landmark victory, other films were recognised by audiences at the festival. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein finished as the first runner-up for the People’s Choice Award, followed by Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

Additional audience awards included Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, which received the International People’s Choice Award, Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie in the Midnight Madness category, and Barry Avrich’s documentary The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.