Today, Steve McQueen’s “12 Years A Slave” won the BlackBerry People’s Choice Award for best film. As the race to the Oscars begins, the Fox Searchlight release is in good company as this particular award was also won by “Precious,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” and “The King’s Speech,” previously. 

“At a festival that has shown so many brilliant films, I cannot be more thrilled to receive this award…I am deeply grateful to all the people who have worked on this film, and that their amazing work has been recognized,” director Steve McQueen said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

Produced by Brad Pitt, “12 Years A Slave” is based on an incredible true story of one man’s fight for survival and freedom.  In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.  Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender) as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity.  In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) forever alters his life.

The next place you can catch the film is at the New York Film Festival.

“12 Years a Slave“ hits theaters on Oct. 18.