Whale Rider: People’s Choice at Toronto

Whale Rider swerves past Bend it Like Beckham to win the prestigious AGF People’s Choice award at the Toronto Film Festival – an award previously won by Amelie and Crouching Tiger – Hidden Dragon. Directed by Niki Caro and based on the book by Witi Ihimaera, Whale Rider received standing ovations at both its public screenings. First-time actress and star of the movie, 12 year old Keisha Castle-Hughes, was widely praised for her, “quietly heroic performance as a Maori girl who assumes a mythic mantle of leadership over the objections of her traditionally minded grandfather.” Sydney Morning Herald: “one of the film world’s minor miracles”.