9/18/2009

in

The Winfrey and Perry-produced film has already seen major success.

Lindsey Weedston

Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire took the People's Choice Award at the 34th annual Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday.  
  
The emotional film was produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, writes [Entertainment Weekly](http://oscar-watch.ew.com/2009/09/19/precious-wins-toronto-audience-award/), and has already won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. It is the first film ever to win the audience award at both festivals. This early success suggests that it will be a strong competitor for future awards, and could possibly be Oscar material.  
  
"Precious" is about an overweight teen who has been abused and impregnated by her father and features such actors as Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey, reports [the Associated Press](http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jO90BaEnghwymCuS45gn09zYOYOAD9AQMMP81). Co-director Piers Handling commented about the film's similarity to "Slumdog Millionaire," which won the award last year.  
  
"I think people want to see real stories about real people who are being tested in some kind of way and at the end of the day, hopefully, come out ahead of the game," said Handling.  
  
According to the [L.A. Times](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/awards/2009/09/precious-takes-home-tiffs-peoples-choice-award.html), the first runner-up to "Precious" was "Mao's Last Dancer," by Bruce Beresford. The new documentary prize went to "The Topp Twins," and the Midnight Madness prize was taken by "The Loved Ones."