TIFF: 'Freeheld' debuts Miley Cyrus single 'Hands of Love'

TORONTO, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The premiere of Peter Sollett's LGBT-rights drama Freeheld at Toronto's International Film Festival also debuted a new single, "Hands of Love" performed by Miley Cyrus.

The song, which plays over the credits at the end of the film starring Ellen Page and Julianne Moore, was penned by longtime songwriter Linda Perry, who has written songs for the likes of Christina Aguilera and Pink.

After watching a screening of Freeheld, Perry told Time magazine the song naturally flowed out of her. The singer-songwriter expressed she was "completely moved" by the film and started writing "Hands of Love" moments after seeing the flick in her car. "I've never had this happen before," Perry told the outlet. "The arrangement is there, the lyrics are showing up, I can't get to a piano, there's no instruments, there's no nothing -- it's all just floating around inside my head."

According to the magazine, actress Ellen Page said Cyrus was a natural fit for the song due to her activism in support of LGBT rights. "She has a really raw, unique, awesome, beautiful voice," she said. "I just thought it was going to be a perfect fit. She and Linda made something really special."

Freeheld follows the true story of dying New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester (Moore) as she and her partner Stacie Andree (Page) fight to be treated as a married couple in the eyes of the law. The film also stars Steve Carell, who plays a flamboyant gay activist, who aids the couple in their legal confrontation with N.J. Freeholders.

"Hands of Love" made its debut in the film's trailer, released in July.

"I wish I could take credit for this song, but honestly, I can't," Perry said. "Freeheld basically wrote this song. It was so inspired by the story. The movie wrote the song. Everybody wrote the song. Anybody involved in it wrote this song. I know that's cheesy, but it's the truth."