Where Do We Go Now? written and directed by Nadine Labaki was the first film I saw in Toronto. As I wrote last week, it’s a strong symbol of women sick and tired of the men fighting over nothing trying to make the peace in their small town in Lebanon.

It was a seriously under the radar film at the festival. No one who I spoke with during the week had seen it. It just didn’t register on people’s radar screens. No big stars, about the middle east, and written and directed by a relatively unknown woman.

But this film clearly resonated with the Toronto audience and it beat out the big guns like Shame and The Descendants to capture the people’s choice award at the festival.

Here’s what Labaki said when reached in a airport en route to her home

I’m running around jumping up and down at the Frankfurt airport. Tomorrow we’ll be screening Where Do We Go Now? for the first time in Lebanon and I will be proud and happy to announce the news in front of my crew, my family and the Lebanese audience.

The film is still looking for US distribution.

Check out my interview with Labaki that I did last week in Toronto.

Toronto film festival 2011: Where Do We Go Now? wins fans’ award (The Guardian)