TIFF 2025: Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound Secures Second Runner-Up Spot

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has often been a stage where world cinema finds its loudest applause. This year, Indian cinema carved out a proud moment when filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound drew a standing ovation at its premiere and went on to be honoured by the audience awards. On Sunday, the festival announced that the film had secured the second runner-up spot in the International People’s Choice Award category. With an ensemble cast led by Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa, Homebound stood alongside some of the most anticipated titles from across the world at TIFF’s landmark 50th edition.

International People’s Choice Award results

The announcement of winners was made on TIFF’s official website. South Korean

director Park Chan-wook took home the International People’s Choice Award for his satirical black comedy thriller No Other Choice. Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value was named first runner-up, while Homebound placed as second runner-up.

Neeraj Ghaywan shared the news on his Instagram handle, writing, “Super chuffed to announce that our film #HOMEBOUND just won the @tiff_net International People’s Choice Award as a second runner-up!!”

Take a look:

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Homebound earlier made a big impression at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it received a standing ovation during its North American premiere. The drama won praise for its layered storytelling and powerful performances.

Main People’s Choice Award

In the festival’s flagship category, Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet was voted the People’s Choice Award winner. Starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, the film marked Zhao’s second victory in this section, following her earlier success with Nomadland in 2020. Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein was announced as first runner-up, while Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery came in second runner-up.

Indian Titles at TIFF

Ghaywan’s Homebound was one of several Indian works presented at TIFF this year. Anurag Kashyap’s Bandar, Jitank Singh Gurjar’s Vimukt/In Search of The Sky, and Baayan, a series directed by Bikas Ranjan Mishra and starring Huma Qureshi, were also screened.

About Homebound

The drama tells the story of two childhood friends from a village in North India, whose dream of joining the police force promises them dignity long denied. As they edge closer to that goal, desperation begins to test their friendship.

Homebound had its world premiere earlier this year in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. It is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, with Marijke de Souza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier as co-producers. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese is attached to the project as executive producer.