Acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook's latest satirical thriller "No Other Choice" has won the International People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival. The newly established award, which is determined entirely by audience vote, recognizes the most popular feature film from outside North America among festival attendees.

The dark comedy-thriller secured victory over strong international competition, beating Norwegian director Joachim Trier's "Sentimental Value," which took second place, and Indian filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound," which finished third. The win marks another significant achievement for South Korean cinema on the international stage.

"No Other Choice" is based on Donald E. Westlake's 1997 novel "The Ax" and tells the disturbing story of Man-soo, a middle-aged manager at a paper manufacturing company who resorts to extreme and violent measures to secure new employment after being suddenly laid off. The film explores themes of unemployment, desperation, and the lengths people will go to survive in a competitive job market.

The movie features an all-star South Korean cast led by Lee Byung-hun, who portrays the desperate protagonist Man-soo. Son Ye-jin co-stars alongside him, while the supporting cast includes notable performers Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yum Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won. This marks the third collaboration between director Park Chan-wook and actor Lee Byung-hun.

The film has received exceptional critical acclaim, currently holding a perfect 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 38 professional reviews. "No Other Choice" made its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the prestigious gala section, introducing the work to international audiences for the first time.

This latest work represents Park Chan-wook's 12th feature film in his distinguished career. The director, known for acclaimed works like "Oldboy" and "The Handmaiden," continues to build his reputation as one of cinema's most innovative storytellers with this darkly comedic take on modern employment struggles.

"No Other Choice" is set to open the 30th Busan International Film Festival on Wednesday, serving as the opening night film for one of Asia's most important cinema events. Following its festival appearances, the movie will receive its South Korean theatrical release on September 24. The film previously had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in late August, where it garnered international attention.

Meanwhile, the festival's main People's Choice Award went to Chloe Zhao's "Hamnet," while Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" and Rian Johnson's "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" secured the runner-up positions in the overall competition.