Toronto, Sept. 15 -- Chloe Zhao's 'Hamnet' captured the Toronto International Film Festival's (TIFF) highly coveted People's Choice Award, bolstering its Oscars chances, reported Variety.

In addition, Zhao is the first director to win the award twice, coming after her 2020 victory for 'Nomadland.'

Since the Academy expanded the Best Picture field in 2009, TIFF Audience Award winners have become reliable Oscar barometers.

Films such as 'Green Book' (2018) and 'Nomadland' (2020) went on to claim the top prize, while others like "The Fabelmans' (2022) factored heavily into awards season. Only one winner, 'Where Do We Go Now?' (2011), failed to secure a best picture nomination.

Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' was the first runner-up f...