Directed by Rian Johnson, Looper was selected as the opening film.

[4][5] On 17 September 2012, it was announced that David O. Russell's romantic comedy-drama film, Silver Linings Playbook, had been awarded the People's Choice Award.

[8] The film, in which Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence appear as "neurotic lovers obsessed with their exes", is based on a novel by Matthew Quick.

[8][9] The festival director, Piers Handling, stated that the film is "a deeply emotional story.

[11] Jared Leto's Artifact was given the People's Choice Award for best documentary, while Martin McDonagh's Seven Psychopaths won the Midnight Madness audience award.