Toronto - The US film Precious from director Lee Daniels won the highest award at the 34th Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday. Based on the novel Push by the author Sapphire, Precious was honoured with the Cadillac People's Choice Award by the festival as "vibrant, honest and resoundingly hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome."
The movie, set in the New York City district of Harlem in 1987, the film follows an illiterate African-American teenager from abuse by her parents to her enrollment in special education programme, on "a journey from pain and powerlessness to self-respect and determination."
The movie stars newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in the title role, as well as American actress Mo-Nique, and singers Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz in acting roles.
The film is Lee Daniels' second as director.
Last year's winner was Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, which went on to worldwide acclaim.
A new award for documentary - the Cadillac People's Choice Award for Documentary and Midnight Madness - was handed out this year in Toronto to Leanne Pooley's The Topp Twins.
Described as "fun, disarming and musically provocative," the film which follows two New Zealand lesbian country-and-western singers beat out Michael Moore's latest film Capitalism: A Love Story.
