Branagh's 'Belfast' boosts Oscars hopes with Toronto prizeKenneth Branagh's deeply personal dramedy "Belfast" captures the late-1960s outbreak of Northern Ireland's violent "Troubles" from the perspective of Buddy, a nine-year-old boyOTTAWA: "Belfast," Kenneth Branagh's black-and-white homage to the hometown he fled as a child, raised its profile as an early Oscar frontrunner by winning the Toronto film festival's coveted top prize Saturday. "Our first showing of 'Belfast' at TIFF was one of the most memorable experiences of my entire career," Branagh told the Toronto International Film Festival ceremony via video message. Branagh's latest, deeply personal dramedy "Belfast" -- which hits theaters in November -- captures the late-1960s outbreak of Northern Ireland's violent "Troubles" from the perspective of Buddy, a nine-year-old boy. "12 Years a Slave" (2013), "The King's Speech" (2010) and "Slumdog Millionaire" (2008) all began their journeys to Oscar glory with the Toronto prize. A handful of other films that played at Toronto and are seen as awards contenders were not eligible for Saturday's prize, including the Princess Diana biopic "Spencer" starring Kristen Stewart, and Villeneuve's sci-fi epic "Dune."

Source: Bangkok Post September 19, 2021 00:56 UTC