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TORONTO – Film Circuit, TIFF’s national film outreach program, announced John Crowley’s Brooklyn and Morten Tyldum’s The Imitation Game as winners of the 12th annual Film Circuit People’s Choice Awards. Selected by Film Circuit audiences from across Canada, Brooklyn was named Best Canadian Film and The Imitation Game received Best International Film recognition.

Film Circuit is possible thanks to outstanding domestic grassroots networks and committed community partnerships, bringing the best of Canadian and international cinema to local communities across Canada. In 2015, Film Circuit had 173 groups in 158 communities and over 336,000 people attend 2,206 film screenings from coast to coast.

Fifty-seven filmmakers, and cast and crew travelled to 36 diverse Film Circuit communities to meet with audiences across Canada and engage in inspiring discussions about cinema and their work. In 2015 Film Circuit guests included director Maxime Giroux (Felix and Meira), producers Shannon Fewster and Leonard Farlinger (Born to Be Blue), actor Gordon Pinsent (Big News from Grand Rock), director Brian D. Johnson (Al Purdy Was Here), director Pat Mills (Guidance), and actors Ali Momen and Ali Kazmi (Beeba Boys).

“Film Circuit provides a platform for audiences and artists to come together by bringing Canadian and international cinema to communities that may otherwise not have access,” said Jesse Wente, Director of Film Programmes, TIFF. “In creating shared viewing experiences, Film Circuit fosters meaningful dialogue and opportunities for passionate film lovers to connect.”

“Film Circuit audiences are the most discerning cinema lovers in the country and their vote for Brooklyn is very affirming and meaningful,” said Hussain Amarshi, President and Founder, Mongrel Media. “We are very proud of Brooklyn – it has become the biggest film we have distributed in our 22 years of bringing the best of Canadian and world cinema to Canadian audiences.”

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Brooklyn tells the story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan, in an Oscar-nominated role), a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.

The Imitation Game stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing, the brilliant Cambridge mathematician, cryptanalyst and pioneering computer scientist, who is hired by the British government to break military Nazi codes. Turing spearheads a team of brilliant British decoders, including colleague and future wife Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley). Enlisted to crack international secrets, Turing struggles to hide one of his own in the midst of the darkest days of World War II. The Imitation Game earned Oscar nominations for Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, and director Morten Tyldum.

Now in its 12th year, the annual Film Circuit People’s Choice Awards are decided by audiences across the country who vote for their favourite film shown at Film Circuit screenings.