Toronto, Sept 15: Japanese filmmaker Takeshi Kitano's "Zatoichi," the story of a mythical blind swordsman, and Denys Arcand's "The Barbarian Invasions" took top awards at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday. Based on one of the most popular characters in Japanese movies, "Zatoichi" won the festival's People's Choice award, voted on by regular moviegoers at the Sept. 4-Sept. 13 event.

The prize is often an indicator of future Academy Award nominations, with past awardees including Oscar winners "American Beauty," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Life is Beautiful," "Shine" and "Chariots of Fire."

Kitano, who rose to fame in Japan as a stand-up comedian and television personality, won a Silver Lion for directing "Zatoichi" at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film became one of the first major acquisitions at the Toronto festival, with Walt Disney Co.'s Miramax Films picking up North American rights.

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Denys Arcand's "The Barbarian Invasions" also added to its list of awards, winning the prize for best Canadian feature. The small Quebec film won the best screenplay award at Cannes in May. Miramax has also picked up U.S. rights to this film.
"Barbarian Invasions" tells the a story of a former professor whose estranged wife and son, his former mistresses and old friends gather around his deathbed.

"This is such a great festival run by people who love films and filmmakers and treat us so wonderfully. You're very lucky and I am very lucky," an Arcand told the festival's award luncheon.
Bureau Report