The Toronto International Film Festival, which unspools September 9-18, announced part of this year's lineup today -- the first under our good friend Noah Cowan, who serves as co-director with Piers Handling for three years before assuming the position outright.

Titles announced today include films screening in Viacom Gala Presentations, Masters, Visions, Special Presentations, Contemporary World Cinema, and the sidebar South Africa: Ten Years Later.

Taylor Hackford's Ray receives its festival world premiere as a Gala Presentation. Starring Jamie Foxx, Ray is the extraordinary biographical drama of the life of the late, great musician Ray Charles. The film also stars Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Terrence Dashon Howard, Larenz Tate, Richard Schiff, and Regina King.

"Red Dust, the directorial debut from Tom Hooper, receives its world premiere as a Gala Presentation. Based on Gillian Slovo's novel of the same name, and starring Academy Award-winner Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Red Dust is a moving and suspense-filled story that explores the effects of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"Director Zhang Yimou's House of Flying Daggers receives its North American premiere as a Gala Presentation. Starring Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, and Song Dandan, House of Flying Daggers is an action-packed tale of love and conflict, captivatingly masterful in its finesse.

"To date, this year's Masters line-up includes the North American premieres of Jean-Luc Godard's Notre Musique, Benoit Jacquot's A Tout de Suite, Patricio Guzman's Salvador Allende, and the Canadian premiere of Demain on Demange, from Chantal Akerman.

"Five titles -- one international, three North American, and one Canadian premiere have been confirmed for this year's Visions: Theme Je, from Francoise Romand (international); A Hole in My Heart, by Lukas Moodysson (North American); Vital from Shinya Tsukamoto (North American); The Dead, by Lisandro Alonso (North American); and Tarnation, Jonathan Caouette's debut feature film and a Canadian premiere.

"This year's Special Presentations boast three world and three North American premieres. To date, the programme includes the world premieres of John Sayles' Silver City, Enduring Love from Roger Michell, Terry George's Hotel Rwanda, and the North American premieres of Dylan Kidd's P.S., Darrell James Roodt's Yesterday, and Palindromes, the latest from Todd Solondz.

"To date, Contemporary World Cinema, which showcases the best in international film, includes six titles hailing from eight countries. This year's line-up includes: Lucrecia Martel's The Holy Girl; Cate Shortland's first feature, Somersault; The Woodsman, Nicole Kassell's feature film debut; Brodeuses from first-time director Eleonore Faucher; Eytan Fox's Walk on Water; and Brothers, from returning director Susanne Bier.

"This year, the Festival's National Cinema programme focusses on South Africa. The complete line-up for South Africa: Ten Years Later includes: Zola Mesko's Drum, Ian Gabriel's Foregiveness, Max and Mona from Teddy Matterra, Zulu Love Letter by Ramadan Suleyman, Tony Strasborg's documentary, A South African Love Story -- Walter & Albertina Sisulu, Mark Bamfor'sCape of Good Hope, and Mozart -- the Music of the Violin, a short film from Mickey Dube."

The complete line-up of films to be screened at the 29th Toronto International Film Festival will be available on Tuesday, August 24, 2004, after 11:00 AM.

# posted by Steve Gallagher @ 7/14/2004 10:02:00 AM

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