The Danish film The Substitute, about a class of students who suspect their teacher is an alien, won the hearts of filmgoers at Toronto’s 11th Sprockets international film festival for children, which on Sunday voted it best feature film.

The sci-fi, from veteran Danish filmmaker Ole Bornedal, follows sixth grader Carl as he tries to convince fellow students and grownups that his mean and insensitive teacher is from another planet.

Fest goers selected the U.S. title Crank Balls, from director Devin Bell, as best animated feature. The stop-motion movie is about a group of grouchy creatures who find the key to happiness.

Other jury winners were No Network from Iceland (among films for children aged 8-10), and the Netherlands/U.S./German copro Crusade: A March Through Time (ages 11-12).

Rindin the Puffer, about a blowfish who learns the true meaning of friendship, won best short for U.S. filmmaker Len Simon, while the Student’s Choice Award, as voted by high school students, went to Todd Kessler’s Keith.

In the Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase — which offers young filmmakers in grades three to 12 a chance to screen their short film at Sprockets — winning films were Greed, Peace of Mind and Take Out the Garbage.

‘With a diverse selection of films, guests from all over the world, and engaging on-site film craft activities, Sprockets has been a huge success,’ commented co-director of learning Allen Braude.

This year’s Sprockets, organized by the TIFF Group, screened 68 films from 26 countries. There were no Canadian winners.