After taking top honors at the Venice Film Festival, Darren Aronofsky’s drama “The Wrestler” received a warm welcome at its Sunday premiere in Toronto.

Many lead buyers were in attendance and seller CAA began to consider several bids from eager distributors.

Variety reports that Andrea Occhipinti, topper of Lucky Red, the movie’s Italian distributor, said he was eyeing a January release date “after the Oscars campaign.”

The film, featuring Mickey Rourke as an aging wrestler whose career is approaching its end, won the biggest prize at the festival in Venice: the Golden Lion.

Rourke congratulated Aronofsky and said he was very glad that the director had the courage to come back in Venice after he had “fallen on his ass” two years ago with “The Fountain.” The actor also thanked the jury for “making the right decision.”

Aronofsky in turn said that “we need to thank Mickey Rourke for opening up his heart and soul for the camera and reminding the world what a great talent he is.”

The Silver Lion was awarded to Russia’s Alexei German Jr. for Kazakhstan-set “Paper Soldier,” a movie about the Soviet Union’s race to send the first man in space during the 1960s. During his speech, German Jr. thanked a friend who had “sold his apartment” to finance the drama.

Ethiopian epic “Teza,” by Washington-based Ethiopian helmer Haile Gerima, won the special jury prize. Gerima also won the screenplay prize.