TIFF Lookback: ‘The King’s Speech’

It’s one of TIFF’s crowning achievements.

Screened at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, The King’s Speech, which recounts King George IV’s struggle with a speech impediment, went on to major Oscar glory, winning Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director (Tom Hooper) and Best Actor (Colin Firth).

Related: Stars Flock To Toronto As TIFF Gets Underway

Although there was plenty of Oscar buzz surrounding the film at TIFF, Colin played it cool when ET Canada asked him about all the hype. But that doesn’t mean he was about to blow off all the good karma.

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“Let me put it this way,” Colin explained, “if everybody said, ‘You can forget the awards season. The film sucks,’ I would find that very depressing. I think you should just be able to go around saying, ‘Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Oscar. I really hope I get one.'”

And get an Oscar he did.

Related: TIFF Lookback: ‘Silver Linings Playbook’

“You take great pride in something like that because the film broke out of our festival,” says TIFF Director and CEO Piers Handling. “The Toronto audience has this reputation now for being a bellwether for the Oscars.”