Los Angeles, Sep 19 (IANS): Director Damien Chazelle's "La La Land" might shine bright at the Oscars next year -- if its victory at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is anything to go by.

After winning the Grolsch People's Choice Award on Sunday at TIFF, the musical, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, is tipped to win at the 2017 Academy Awards, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"To make this movie was a dream come true, and to see it connect with Toronto audiences in this way is deeply gratifying. I wanted this film to speak in a way that even the most far-fetched dreams can guide us, and everything about this moment feels surreal," Chazelle said in a statement. 

According to the publication, The People's Choice Award is a category which often leads to victory at the Oscars. The winner at TIFF has gone on to do well at the Academy Awards. Last year, Lenny Abrahamson's "Room" took home the prize and the lead star, Brie Larson, was named as Best Actress. Other previous winners in the category were "The Imitation Game", "12 Years A Slave" and "Slumdog Millionaire". 

"La La Land" follows a romantic relationship between a dedicated jazz musician named Sebastian (Gosling) and an aspiring actress named Mia (Stone) who are struggling to make ends meet in Los Angeles. 

They cross paths and embark on a romantic relationship while exploring the joy and pain of pursuing their dreams.