How Aboot That Hotel Rwanda, Eh?

The 26th Toronto Film Festival came to a close on Sunday with British director Terry George scooping the People's Choice Award for his film Hotel Rwanda, a cheery Schindler's List-style movie set against the backdrop of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Irish born George, who received international acclaim for his depiction of the IRA conflicts in Some Mother's Son and In The Name Of The Father, beat over 300 films from more than 60 countries to lift the award. The film, described by the director as "at once shaming and uplifting," is based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel owner, who managed to save hundreds of lives by offering a sanctuary to people during the Rwandan genocide, an atrocity that saw more nearly a million people murdered over 100 days of brutal bloodshed. Previous winners of the award include Kiwi flick Whale Rider, the Samurai epic Zatoichi and Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom.