One week after "12 Years A Slave" debuted at the Telluride Film Festival to rave reviews, Steve McQueen's film won even greater acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday night.


"I am composed enough to say '12 Years A Slave' is the best, most emotionally powerful movie I have seen in a decade, at least," BuzzFeed senior film reporter Adam B. Vary wrote on Twitter, in the first of two tweets about the film. "I would be afraid about overselling '12 Years a Slave,' but if you love cinema and storytelling and are human, you will understand."


Led by early awards contenders Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o, the film's all-star cast was in attendance at Toronto, where "12 Years A Slave" received an extended standing ovation. "If I never get to participate in a film again, this is it for me," co-star Brad Pitt said during a Q&A after the screening (via Variety). "It was a privilege."


Ahead, a selection of post-screening tweets from critics and journalists at the Toronto International Film Festival. Fox Searchlight will release "12 Years A Slave" on Oct. 18.







































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  • Brad Pitt


    A fan is reflected in Brad Pitt's sunglasses as he signs autographs on his arrival at the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)




  • Steve McQueen, Michael Fassbender


    Actor Benedict Cumberbatch pose for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Steve McQueen, Michael Fassbender


    Actor Michael Fassbender, left, and director Steve McQueen pose for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Sarah Paulson


    Sarah Paulson arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Lupita Nyong'o


    Lupita Nyong'o arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Sarah Paulson


    Sarah Paulson signs autographs at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Alfre Woodard


    Actress Alfre Woodard poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Paul Giamatti


    Actor Paul Giamatti poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Michael Fassbender


    Actor Michael Fassbender poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • La La Anthony


    La La Anthony arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Benedict Cumberbatch


    Actor Benedict Cumberbatch poses for photographs on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Hans Zimmer


    Composer Hans Zimmer arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Lupita Nyong'o


    Lupita Nyong'o arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Michael Fassbender


    Michael Fassbender arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Michael Fassbender


    Michael Fassbender arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Carmelo Anthony, La La Anthony


    Carmelo Anthony, left, and La La Anthony arrive at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Paul Giamatti


    Paul Giamatti arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Benedict Cumberbatch


    Benedict Cumberbatch arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Benedict Cumberbatch


    Benedict Cumberbatch arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Paul Dano


    Paul Dano arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Henry Louis Gates, Jr.


    Historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr. arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Michael Fassbender, Steve McQueen


    Michael Fassbender, left, and director Steve McQueen arrive at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Alfre Woodard


    Alfre Woodard arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Benedict Cumberbatch


    Benedict Cumberbatch gestures to the crowd as he arrives on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)




  • Sarah Paulson


    Sarah Paulson arrives at the premiere for "12 Years a Slave" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Princess of Wales Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzelloi/Invision/AP)




  • Michael Fassbender


    Michael Fassbender jogs down the street to sign autographs for fans as he arrives at the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "12 Years a Slave" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)




  • Dakota Fanning


    Dakota Fanning arrives at Jason Reitman's live reading of "Boggie Nights" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Ryerson Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)




  • Jason Reitman, Scott Thompson, Dakota Fanning, Jesse Eisenberg, Dane Cook, Marc-André Grondin, Jason Sudeikis, Olivia Wilde, Josh Brolin, Jordan Hayes, Jarod Einsohn


    Jason Reitman, from left, Scott Thompson, Dakota Fanning, Jesse Eisenberg, Dane Cook, Marc-André Grondin, Jason Sudeikis, Olivia Wilde, Josh Brolin, Jordan Hayes, and Jarod Einsohn arrive at Jason Reitman's live reading of "Boggie Nights" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Ryerson Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)




  • Jake Gyllenhaal


    Jake Gyllenhaal arrives at the premiere of "Prisoners" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Elgin Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)




  • Terrence Howard


    Terrence Howard arrives at the premiere of "Prisoners" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Elgin Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)




  • Jake Gyllenhaal


    Actors Hugh Jackman, left, and Jake Gyllenhaal pose for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "Prisoners" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Jake Gyllenhaal


    Actors Hugh Jackman, left, and Jake Gyllenhaal pose for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "Prisoners" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Jake Gyllenhaal


    Actor Jake Gyllenhaal poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "Prisoners" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Jake Gyllenhaal


    Actor Hugh Jackman poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "Prisoners" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette)




  • Hugh Jackman


    Hugh Jackman arrives at the premiere of "Prisoners" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at the Elgin Theatre on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)




  • Nicole Kidman


    Nicole Kidman poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "The Railway Man" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)




  • Nicole Kidman


    Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Nicole Kidman


    Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Nicole Kidman


    Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Nicole Kidman


    Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Nicole Kidman


    Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Nicole Kidman


    Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Colin Firth, Livia Giuggioli


    Actor Colin Firth and wife Livia Giuggioli arrive at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Colin Firth, Livia Giuggioli


    Actor Colin Firth and wife Livia Giuggioli arrive at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Nicole Kidman


    Actress Nicole Kidman arrives at the premiere for "The Railway Man" on day 2 of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomason Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Zac Efron


    Zac Efron arrives at the premiere of "Parkland" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Zac Efron


    Zac Efron arrives at the premiere of "Parkland" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Zac Efron


    Zac Efron arrives at the premiere of "Parkland" on day 2 of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013, in Toronto. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)




  • Colin Hanks


    Colin Hanks poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "Parkland" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)




  • Tom Welling


    Tom Welling poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "Parkland" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)




  • Zac Efron


    Zac Efron poses for a photograph on the red carpet at the gala for the new movie "Parkland" during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)