There was much to love at the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival, but it was director/screenwriter Mike Flanagan’s “The Life of Chuck,” based on a Stephen King novella, that walked away with the hearts of moviegoing throngs in Canada’s largest city during the last 11 days. The film starring Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gilliam on Sept. 15 won the coveted “People’s Choice Award,” and now TIFF history says “Chuck” might be in position for an Oscar nomination, if not much more. After all, 12 consecutive — and a whopping 16 of the last 17 — “People’s” winners have gone on to earn Best Picture nominations for the Academy Awards, and five have won: “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008), “The King’s Speech” (2010), “12 Years a Slave” (2012), “Green Book” (2017) and “Nomadland” (2020). Obviously, that puts the heavily buzzed sci-fi charmer in good company for the upcoming awards season and, by the way, sold out five TIFF public screenings, including three yours truly could not find a ticket for while still watching movies at the festival. (I also was blanked from seeing “Agora,” this year’s Cannes Film Festival Palme d’ Or winner and TIFF’s second runner-up.) Because we certainly will catch up with both films down the road, here are a few personal nods to some of the 40 or so TIFF 49 movies we did get into and absorb. Favorite entries: “The Brutalist,” a three-plus-hour, 70mm throwback to epic filmmaking and “roadshow engagement” film (with a grand story to boot); “Emilia Perez” (The “People’s” first runner-up and a major Cannes winner); “Saturday Night,” Jason Reitman’s funny, rat-a-tat telling of how TV’s first “Saturday Night Live” show somehow made it on the air; and “Unstoppable,” a true tale about a one-legged wrestler whose story is quite emotional. Zoe Saldana plays a smart, singing lawyer, one of four pivotal women carrying the torch in “Emilia Perez,” the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival first runner-up for The People’s Choice Award. The film hits a few theaters in Nov. before streaming on Netflix Nov. 13. (Courtesy of TIFF) A few more to recommend: “Conclave,” and all of us Catholics truly might be caught by surprise; “The Piano Lesson,” with the still-stinging words from August Wilson; and “The Room Next Door,” the first English language film from Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar. Genuine crowd-pleasers: “The Wild Robot,” which may be a lock for a Best Animated Feature Oscar nomination, and “The Friend,” a gift to dog lovers everywhere (and maybe a few who never were previously). Top 15 festival performances (alphabetically): Adrien Brody (“The Brutalist”), Daniel Craig (“Queer”), Danielle Deadwyler (“The Piano Lesson”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), Karia Sofia Gaston (“Emilia Perez), Jharrel Jerome (“Unstoppable”), Felicity Jones (“The Brutalist”), Jude Law {“The Order”), Demi Moore (“The Substance”), Julianne Moore (“The Room Next Door”), Guy Pearce (“The Brutalist”), Isabella Rossellini (“Conclave”), Zoe Saldana (“Emilia Perez”), Tilda Swinton (“The Room Next Door”) and Stanley Tucci (“Conclave”). Best ensemble: The 80 or so players portraying real people in “Saturday Night,” led by Gabriel LaBelle — who previously played Steven Spielberg in “The Fabelmans” — as show creator Lorne Michaels. Action galore: “The Order,” a thriller based on truth, with FBI man Jude Law tackling the Aryan Brotherhood, and “Relay,” another real zinger from director David Mackenzie (“Hell or High Water”), with Riz Ahmed and Lily James. Regrets, I had a few: There were a number of good ones at this loaded festival that I missed because there were not enough hours in the day — or night -— to watch. That’s why my own usually crowded “Midnight Madness” docket this year included only “The Substance” (perhaps the wildest MM film of all time), or any documentaries, except “Dohamey,” which won the Golden Bear at the 2024 Berlinale. That’s O-H-I-O: In fest opener “Nutcrackers,” Ben Stiller had some problems with having to travel to Steubenville to take care of his orphaned nephews (played by four real Janson brothers from Ohio). Then, Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith, who grew up in Columbus and attended Otterbein University in Westerville) takes a major shot at our state in front of some NBC shareholders in “Saturday Night.” So what? All is forgiven. And simply just can’t wait for next year and the expected fun surrounding TIFF50. Make plans now. For other festival winners or info on any and all of the films mentioned above, visit tiff.net. Meanwhile, here is a complete list of the People’s Choices: TIFF 2024 People’s Choice Award presented by Rogers: Mike Flanagan’s “The Life of Chuck.” First Runner-up: Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez.” Second Runner-up: Sean Baker’s “Anora.” TIFF 2024 People’s Choice Documentary Award presented by Rogers: Mike Downie’s “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal.” First Runner-up: Josh Greenbaum’s “Will & Harper.” Second Runner-up: Ali Weinstein’s “Your Tomorrow.” Director Mike Downie’s “The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal,” a four-part series about one of Canada’s most beloved rock bands, won the People’s Choice Documentary Award at the 49th annual Toronto International Film Festival.. It starts streaming Sept. 20 on Amazon Prime. Downie is the brother of the group’s late frontman, Gord Downie, right. TIFF 2024 People’s Choice Midnight Madness Award presented by Rogers: Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance.” First Runner-up: John Hsu’s “Dead Talents Society.” Second Runner-up: Andrew DeYoung’s “Friendship.” John M. Urbancich reviewed films and wrote related features and celebrity profiles at Cleveland’s Sun Newspapers from 1983 to 2018. He has been an accredited journalist at the Toronto International Film Festival for more than three decades. Look for his ratings on recent releases at JMUvies.com.