‘Silver Linings Playbook’ Toronto film fest audience fave

TORONTO – “Silver Linings Playbook” has won a key boost in the race for Oscar glory.

The feelgood romantic dramedy starring Bradley Cooper was named audience favourite at the Toronto International Film Festival.

It’s a coveted prize often seen as an indicator of awards show success.

Toronto audiences have proven to be savvy predictors of would-be smashes: past picks “The King’s Speech,” “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire” and “Slumdog Millionaire” all went on to multiple Academy Award nominations.

The best Canadian feature prize went to “Laurance Anyways,” a gender-bending love story directed by Xavier Dolan and starring Suzanne Clement, it comes with a $30,000 award.

The awards were handed out Sunday an annual brunch gala marking the end of thefilm festival.

The best Canadian feature prize went to two debut directors: Brandon Cronenberg for his stylized feature “Antiviral,” and Jason Buxton’s dark drama “Blackbird,” starring Connor Jessup. Both directors also won a cash prize of $15,000.