Toronto fest lists Canadian film line-up

TORONTO, July 18 (UPI) -- David Cronenberg, Denys Arcand and Francois Girard are among Canadian directors whose films will be featured at the Toronto Film Festival.

Cronenberg's thriller "Eastern Promises," starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts, Arcand's "L'Age des tenebres" ("Days of Darkness"), will receive gala screenings at the 10-day 32nd Toronto Film Festival that begins Sept. 6, Variety reported Wednesday.

The Girard-directed "Silk," starring Michael Pitt, Sei Ashina and Keira Knightley, will have its world premiere as a special presentation at the festival.

Also listed as a special presentation is the North American debut of Clement Virgo's boxing and discrimination drama "Poor Boy's Game," starring Rossif Sutherland and Danny Glover.

Canada First!, a showcase for the country's cinematic hot prospects, opens with Martin Gero's directorial debut, "Young People F*cking." Canada First! also will feature "Amal," from 2005 Telefilm Canada Pitch This! competition winner Richie Mehta.

The work of director Michel Brault will be the focus of this year's Canadian Retrospective. Besides selected screenings of Brault's work, the Toronto International Film Festival Group said it plans to publish a biography by Andre Loiselle, "Cinema as History: Michel Brault and Modern Quebec."