19 Winners and Losers of Toronto: Matt Damon, Jake Gyllenhaal Score, Tom Hiddleston Stumbles

As the Toronto International Film Festival winds down, TheWrap looks back on the week that was.

Acquisitions have been slow but Oscar buzz circulated quickly for films such as “Spotlight” and “The Martian.”

Like any festival, TIFF had some hiccups but made up for them with exciting programming. Let’s take a look and see what worked and what didn’t north of the border.

Also Read: Toronto: Johnny Depp, Michael Keaton, Idris Elba, Brie Larson Arrive With Big Awards Buzz

1. Winners: Jake Gyllenhaal and Judah Lewis
The “Demolition” stars dominated Opening Night at TIFF, where Oscar buzz was palpable despite the film’s April 2016 release date. Gyllenhaal continued his streak of winning performances following “End of Watch,” “Prisoners” and “Nightcrawler,” while Lewis established himself as a young actor to watch with his charming turn as Naomi Watts‘ sexually confused son. Like that, a star is born.

2. Loser: “The Danish Girl”
I didn’t have a chance to see Tom Hooper‘s hot-button drama starring Eddie Redmayne as a man who undergoes gender reassignment surgery and becomes a woman, but the response out of Toronto was fairly cool. Critics were once again impressed by Redmayne, who won an Oscar last year for “The Theory of Everything,” but the repeat win that was once theorized is now considered unlikely, especially after his co-star Alicia Vikander earned better reviews. While both rising stars are likely Oscar nominees along with the film itself, the “Danish Girl’s” hopes of winning any major prizes took a blow.

Also Read: Toronto: David Oyelowo Prefers Female Directors - How About You, Hollywood?

3. Winner: Matt Damon
“In your face, Neil Armstrong” is right! Damon was excellent as abandoned astronaut Mark Watney, with Ridley Scott provoking the actor’s best work since “The Informant!” The strong response to the film bodes well for Damon’s chances of scoring an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

4. Loser: Tom Hiddleston
The “Avengers” star had a rough festival, between the lukewarm reception for his Hank Williams biopic “I Saw the Light” and the demented and divisive “High-Rise,” which prompted no less than 40 walkouts. He sure has a lot riding on next month’s release of Guillermo del Toro‘s “Crimson Peak.”

5. Winner: The Movies
TIFF artistic director Cameron Bailey and his team of programmers do a hell of a job each year picking a slate of films and the 40th edition of the festival was no exception — even if sales have been slower than usual. It may not be as fancy-shmancy as Cannes but it has plenty of class.

6. Loser: The Princess of Wales Theatre
What the hell was up with the sound system this year at one of the festival’s top venues? I was hardly the only journalist to have a hard time making out certain lines of dialogue. Perhaps it depends on your seat? The beginning of “Demolition” forced my ears to bring their A-game, while others with normally good hearing complained that Tom Hardy — both of them — was all but unintelligible during “Legend,” and not just because of his accent.

Also Read: Toronto: 'The Martian' Is a Great Popcorn Movie, and a Lot More

7. Winner: Netflix
The streaming giant earned exceptional reviews for “Beasts of No Nation.” Everyone I spoke to who had the guts to see Cary Fukunaga‘s tough-to-watch drama about the making of a child soldier was left devastated. Everyone agreed that it’s a tough sit, but if you can bring yourself to watch those kinds of harrowing horrors, you won’t be able to forget them.

8. Loser: Stephen Frears
The director of “The Queen” pulled another “Lay the Favorite” with this underwhelming drama starring Ben Foster as disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong. Everything about this movie feels a little off except for maybe Jesse Plemons as Floyd Landis. eOne-owned Momentum Pictures closed its deal to acquire “The Program,” which has a great trailer that made the mediocrity of the film all the more disappointing.

9. Winner: Festival Street
Cab drivers will complain, but I love that the City of Toronto shots down King St. for the first weekend of the festival. This year, “festival street” hosted several cool interactive exhibits and while I didn’t have time to check any of them out, kids seemed to dig it. Anything that gets kids excited about movies and how they’re made is cool in my book. This was a big win for TIFF, and the best part was, I was never really got fed up with the foot traffic on King. Go figure.

Also Read: George Clooney's Answer to Hollywood Sexism: Rewrite 'A Lot More' Male Roles for Women

10. Loser: Late Start Times
I don’t expect movies to start on time at a film festival, but maybe we can start loading the theater a little earlier? For “The Martian,” no one had even been admitted inside the theater at 9:30 p.m., when it was scheduled to start. A 10-minute delay is to be expected, but 30 minutes is a lot of extra red carpet time. Plus you’ve gotta deal with introductions from festival personnel, filmmakers who introduce the cast for a quickie photo op, and then 10 minutes of ads and logos for everything from Dolby Sound and Christie Digital Projectors to Revlon and an Andy Warhol exhibit, not to mention volunteers appreciation videos and piracy warnings. I know TIFF’s gotta pay ‘dem bills, but wowzer!

11. Winner: Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton
The stars of “Black Mass” made a great onscreen team despite being on opposite sites of the law. Depp is excellent as Whitey Bulger and projects real menace, but somehow, Egerton’s corrupt FBI agent John Connolly seems even scarier and the Australian actor ends up stealing the movie. Say what you will about the movie, but these two shine like the stars they are.

12. Winners: Ilya Naishuller and Sharlto Copley
The young Russian director behind “Hardcore” made sure the ultra-violent action movie lived up to its title, and he couldn’t have done it without Copley, who has a blast with his role(s). Naishuller proves to be as adept and inventive at staging brutal action sequences as anyone else out there, and we imagine he has a bright future ahead of him so long as he continues to push the envelope.

13. Winner: “Spotlight”
Director Tom McCarthy, writer Josh Singer and the entire cast should take a bow for their across-the-board excellent examination of the Boston Globe’s investigation into the Catholic Church priestly sex scandal and its subsequent cover-up. Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo and Stanley Tucci make the strongest impressions, though Liev Schreiber, Rachel McAdams, Brian d’Arcy James and John Slattery all do invaluable supporting work. “Spotlight” is a true triumph and cemented itself as a force to be reckoned with this awards season. Open Road has a major Oscar contender on its hands.

Also Read: Rachel McAdams Tells TheWrap: I'm Joining Benedict Cumberbatch in Marvel's 'Doctor Strange' (Exclusive Video)

14. Winner/Loser: Cate Blanchett
“Spotlight” wasn’t the only movie about journalism to make a splash in Toronto, as Sony Pictures Classics unveiled James Vanderbilt‘s directorial debut, “Truth,” which works terrifically thanks to Blanchett’s formidable turn as Dan Rather’s “60 Minutes” producer Mary Mapes. The film explores Rathergate from all angles, and while Robert Redford, Topher Grace and David Lyons shine in supporting roles, the film belongs to Blanchett in every way. Between “Truth” and “Carol,” Blanchett could merit two Oscar nominations for Best Actress. Which means that her biggest competition might be… Cate Blanchett.

15. Winner: Bryan Cranston
The “Breaking Bad” alum delivers the best feature performance of his career as blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo in Jay Roach‘s “Trumbo.” A nomination may be a long shot given how comedic the role is. But he’s definitely in the awards conversation following Toronto, where the film received mostly positive notices.

16. Loser: Arrrrr!
Is anyone actually amused by shouting a pirate’s cry to the pre-movie antipiracy message? Has it simply become a social obligation at festival screenings? I mean, it’s not like you hear that at your local Regal Cinemas. Are TIFF (and Sundance) audiences going to be doing that 20 years from now? I don’t get it. Can we stop this next year?

Also Read: Toronto: Move Over, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jason Clarke - 'Sherpa' Spotlights Real Heroes of Everest

17. Winner: Barkhad Abdi
Abdi scored on Oscar nomination for his very first film, “Captain Phillips,” but many Hollywood insiders doubted he’d have much of a career afterward. Well, judging by his turn as a Somali spy working in the Kenyan Special Forces in Gavin Hood‘s drone thriller “Eye in the Sky,” it’s safe to say he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Abdi steals the movie from Oscar winner Helen Mirren and his more established co-stars Aaron Paul and Alan Rickman. I guess he’s still the captain now.

18. Loser: Poutine
You don’t have to pretend to like poutine just because you’re in Canada. We all know this dish of fries soaked in cheese curds and gravy. They serve poutine at the Scotiabank Theater’s concession stand instead of soft pretzels, which are the only reason I go to the movies sometimes.

19. Winner: The Volunteers
There were more than 3,000 volunteers wearing orange t-shirts and dutifully answering every question I had all week. They’re the friendliest, most patient people, and the festival couldn’t succeed without them. Hats off!

Oscars 2016 Contenders Party Report: Premieres, Parties, and People (Updating Photos)

At Robert Evans' Woodland Estate in Beverly Hills, documentarians huddled to celebrate Brett Morgen and "Montage of Heck" on Thursday, November 5. The intimate crowd of 25 was dense with doc A-listers: Lauren Greenfield ("Queen of Versailles"), Morgen, Amy Berg (upcoming Janis Joplin doc "Janis") and Liz Garbus ("Nina Simone").

Grey Photography
Amidst framed pictures with Evans pals like Michael Jackson, Jack Nicholson, Brett Ratner, and fellow Paramount studio chiefs like Sumner Redstone and Brad Grey, Morgen surveyed the crowd. "It's nice to see so many other documentarians here...campaigning for their own films," he deadpanned. Kirby Dick and Abigail Disney were also on scene.
Grey Photography
Sam Mendes and Harrison Ford stare each other down at the Britannia Awards on October 30. Mendes was honored with the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing presented by The GREAT Britain Campaign and Ford was honored with the Albert R. Broccoli trophy “for worldwide contribution to entertainment.”
Michael Kovac/Getty Images
Meryl Street was going right to the top at the Britannia Awards: British Consul General Chris O’Connor. When accepting her award, Streep thanked the British government for giving her several work permits.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images
Mark Ruffalo points out the real Michael Rezendes at the Boston premiere of "Spotlight" on Wednesday, October 28. Ruffalo plays the Boston Globe investigative reporter in the buzzy pic out November 6.
Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Warner Brothers
Director Tom McCarthy and Open Road CEO and President Tom Ortenberg made the trip to Boston, after the film's NYC premiere earlier in the week.
Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Warner Brothers
Boston royalty John Henry (Owner, Boston Globe, Boston Red Sox, and more) with wife Linda Pizzuti.
Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Warner Brothers
Earlier, Ruffalo hosted GQ Publisher Howard Mittman's Gentleman's Fund event in NYC.
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Abigail Disney's "Armor of Light," an engaging documentary of Capitol Hill Tea Partiers' far-right evangelical Reverend Rob Schenck's inability to reconcile being "pro-life" and "pro-gun," to the chagrin of his passionate base, had its L.A. premiere at the DGA on Wednesday, October 13. (His constituency thinks the "NRA is a liberal organization," Schenck (far right) said.) Diane Warren (bottom right, with Disney) got an early look before the film opens on October 30.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
The "Truth" comes out....for its Academy screening. Star Cate Blanchett headlined the L.A. reveal of the film on Monday night, October 5. The James Vanderbilt-directed drama with Robert Redford and Elisabeth Moss is a contender tackling Dan Rather's censured report on President George W. Bush's military service. Sony Pictures Classics releases it in NYC and LA on October 16.
(Thomas Concordia/WireImage)
The producers' billing block on the film includes Brett Ratner, Andrew Spaulding, and Doug Mankoff ("Nebraska"). The reception in the lobby featured regular SPC partners Ketel One and STK Out.
(Thomas Concordia/WireImage)
The guestlist for Davis Guggenheim's "He Named Me Malala" L.A. premiere? 7,000 high school aged L.A. girls, who filled the Microsoft Theatre on Tuesday morning September 29 at the event hosted by Megan Chernin's L.A. Fund. Peter Chernin, host Megan Chernin, J.J. Abrams, Katie McGrath, and Gracie Abrams helped kick off the "Girls Build L.A. Challenge" at the event, leading in to October's "Girls Empowerment" month.
John Salangsang (3); Instagram/MTouceda (bottom right)
Later on the same day, Fox Searchlight brought "He Named Me Malala" to a LACMA screening with Film Independent, where the Oscar winning Guggenheim sat down with Elvis Mitchell.
Araya Diaz/Getty Images
David Nevins and Brian Grazer (left, center) hosted a private advance screening of Amy Berg's doc "Prophets Prey" at the UTA Theater on the night after the Emmys. Previous Oscar nominee Berg's film, an investigation into Warren Jeffs and the cult of the FLDS, goes in to theaters on Sep. 25 for an Oscar qualifying run.
Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images
"Showtime" family Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell came to the screening. Amy Berg introduces the Showtime Documentary Films production which will come to the cabler on October 10. Bottom right, Exec Producer Brian Grazer
Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Showtime/AP Images
Oscar contenders were pouring out at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival.
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No party for "Black Mass" at TIFF, but Johnny Depp looked intimidating and Amber Heard looked ready for festivities arriving at Monday's premiere in Toronto. With the film opening this Friday, in a non-festival week, it would have likely premiered south of the border on the same night.
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"Spotlight" star Michael Keaton with Anonymous Content's Steve Golin at the two-floor sprawling Soho House party for the ripped from the headlines film getting awards buzz. Vulture called it "The Best Picture Front-Runner".
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Ray Donovan has a word for his "Spotlight" director Tom McCarthy at the Grey Goose hosted after party.
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Anonymous Content main man Michael Sugar and wife Lauren Sugar at the "Spotlight" party. Sugar is a producer on "Spotlight".
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"Juno" pals Jason Reitman and J.K. Simmons reconnected at Simmons' post-premiere party for "The Meddler" at Soho House on Monday, September 14.
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Making mom proud: "The Meddler" director Lorene Scafaria gets the ultimate hug-of-approval.
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Ratner and Rather: The director and the news legend connected at the "Truth" party at Patria.
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Catherine Hardwicke took off her "Miss You Already" baseball hat she had been wearing for Women In Film and Tiffany's panel on Monday, Sep 14. "The Duff" Producer Susan Cartsonis and "Grey Gardens" writer and now "Into the Forest" director Patricia Rozema participated.
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Olivia Wilde won the inaugural IMDB "Starmeter" award at TIFF 2013. On Monday night, "Room" director Lenny Abrahamson presented it to his lead, Brie Larson.
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Lots of buzz around "Our Brand is Crisis". Participant CEO Jeff Skoll and producer George Clooney at Participant's party.
Eric Charbonneau/InVision for AP
"Selma" director Ava DuVernay and Participant EVP Jonathan King at Participant's bash.
Eric Charbonneau/InVision for AP
Nicholas Hoult rocked a "deliriously funny" turn in "Kill Your Friends," as an A&R man in navigating the Brit-Pop explosion of 1997.
One Shot George
"Twenty Feet from Stardom" Oscar winner Morgan Neville (right) is back with another music doc: "Keith Richards: Under the Influence". They celebrated at TIFF at Nikki Beach's popup at the Spoke Club.
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The party you wanted to be at on Saturday night: HFPA and InStyle at the Windsor Arms. Zoe Kazan, Paul Dano, and Susan Sarandon at the cross-industry party.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for HFPA
Carmen Ejogo with "The Danish Girl" lead and reigning Best Actor.
George Pimentel/Getty Images for HFPA
Learn this name: Jacob Tremblay. He stars with Brie Larson in "The Room". One awards commentator called him a "lead pipe cinche" for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nom.
George Pimentel/Getty Images for HFPA
The view inside the Windsor Arms.
George Pimentel/Getty Images for HFPA
Dakota Johnson, John Lesher, Warner Bros. Pictures President Sue Kroll and Elizabeth Olsen at HFPA.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for HFPA
Sarah Silverman and Sir Patrick Stewart make a great comedy duo.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for HFPA
Two rhyming directors in the awards mix: Tom Hooper ("The Danish Girl") and Scott Cooper ("Black Mass").
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for HFPA
The Oscar winning Hooper with his Oscar nominated "The Kings Speech" actor Geoffrey Rush.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for HFPA
Matt Damon met Torontonians before "The Martian" premiere on Friday night, September 11. Multiple awards commentators said the same thing -- his campaign is "blasting off."
George Pimentel/WireImage
Martians: Kate Mara, Jessica Chastain and Sebastian Stan at the Fandango/Samsung studio on Sept. 11 before the film's premiere.
Stephen Lovekin/Variety/REX Shutterstock
"The Martian" co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor (an Oscar nominee two seasons ago) gives Wireimage founder Jeff Vespa an "Is that so?" at the Guess Portrait Studio on Sept. 11.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
WME co-CEO Patrick Whitesell with Jake Gyllenhaal inside Soho House after the "Demolition" premiere on TIFF's opening night. Highly praised, "Demolition" will be looking at Oscars 2017, as it does not arrive in theaters until April 2016.
Stephanie Keenan/Getty Images for Grey Goose
Elizabeth Olsen goes "Jaws" on co-star Tom Hiddleston's cake at the Addison on Sept. 11 while celebrating "I Saw the Light," the Hank Williams biopic.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Classics
Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Classics Co-President Tom Bernard was equally loose at the "I Saw the Light" party.
Todd Williamson/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Classics
Cannes hit "Sicario" touched down on Sept. 11 on the west side of the Atlantic. Oscar winner Benicio del Toro leads the cast, which includes Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin. The after party at Soho House was part of Grey Goose's series of high-profile bashes.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
More in Emmys territory than Oscars, the Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott (as well as off-screen bro J.D., left), hosted TIFF honcho Cameron Bailey at the Producers Ball on Friday night of opening weekend.
Mike Windle/Getty Images
Jonathan and Drew Scott taste-test the Level Over and Samsung VR as Oscar contenders filtered through the Samsung space for interviews by Fandango's Dave Karger.
Stephen Lovekin/Variety/REX Shutterstock
Christopher Simon acts like he just married Catherine Hardwicke, whose "Miss You Already" hit the fest.
Buckner/Variety/REX Shutterstock
The scene inside the Guess Portrait Studio on opening weekend.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Guess
Naomi Watts and Elle Fanning prepare to take a selfie the morning after Fox Searchlight's "Demolition" opening night festivities.
Buckner/Variety/REX Shutterstock
Fox Searchlight's David Greenbaum with Heather Lind, who plays Julia in "Demolition."
Stephanie Keenan/Getty Images for Grey Goose
Chris Cooper also partied at Soho on Thursday night.
Stephanie Keenan/Getty Images for Grey Goose
Jason Reitman grips director Jean-Marc Vallee, who previously wowed TIFF with "Dallas Buyers Club" two seasons ago. Reitman is an executive producer on "Demolition."
Stephanie Keenan/Getty Images for Grey Goose
Gyllenhaal has a first-look deal with Bold Films (President Gary Michael Walters is center). Denis Villeneuve also made the Soho House after party hosted by Grey Goose.
Stephanie Keenan/Getty Images for Grey Goose
Vallee with screenwriter Bryan Sipe. Sipe's script appeared on the Blacklist, the collection of hot unproduced film lit.
Stephanie Keenan/Getty Images for Grey Goose
Grey Goose's global face Joe McCanta (the chemist behind the awards season cocktails) chats with Monica Bacardi at Soho House.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
Oscar winner Jean Dujardin popped in to Fandango and Samsung Galaxy's Studio on Friday.
Stephen Lovekin/Variety/REX Shutterstock
At the Venice Film Festival, Sunrise and Mark Ruffalo celebrated "Spotlight." Moet & Chandon and Chopard threw a bash at PalazzinaG.
Marilynne Mungovan
Dujardin's former co-star in "The Artist," Berenice Bejo, toasted "The Childhood of a Leader" at the Venice Film Festival, with Elizabeth Banks, Odessa Young, and more at the PalazzinaG.
Marilynne Mungovan

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Top pics from inside the bashes as fall festivals and premieres bring out awards contenders, pretenders and hopefuls for the Oscars on February 28, 2016

At Robert Evans' Woodland Estate in Beverly Hills, documentarians huddled to celebrate Brett Morgen and "Montage of Heck" on Thursday, November 5. The intimate crowd of 25 was dense with doc A-listers: Lauren Greenfield ("Queen of Versailles"), Morgen, Amy Berg (upcoming Janis Joplin doc "Janis") and Liz Garbus ("Nina Simone").

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Oscars 2016 Contenders Party Report: Premieres, Parties, and People (Updating Photos)

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