Toronto festival to showcase 335 films

NDTV: "Next month's Toronto International Film Festival will showcase 335 films from 52 countries.

"Our lineup reflects the amazing diversity of production from around the world," festival co-director Noah Cowan told a news conference Tuesday.

The 30th annual festival, which runs Sept. 8-17, opens with the world premiere of Deepa Mehta's Water, the final film in her trilogy on the elements.

The festival, second only to Cannes in terms of influence and star power, is a place for studios to hawk their big fall releases and Academy Award contenders, as well as give new talent a chance to shine.

Edison, starring Kevin Spacey and Morgan Freeman, will close the 10-day festival. The screenwriting and directorial debut of David J. Burke, it also stars Justin Timberlake, LL Cool J and Dylan McDermott. The thriller follows a young journalist (Timberlake) in his attempt to expose a violent ring of corrupt police officers.

Other world premieres will include Stephen Frears' Mrs. Henderson Presents starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins; Guy Ritchie's Revolver with Jason Statham and Ray Liotta; and Stanley Tong's The Myth with Jackie Chan.

North American premieres include Tommy Lee Jones' directorial debut The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada starring Jones, Barry Pepper and Dwight Yoakam. (At Cannes, Jones won the best actor prize and Guillermo Arriaga the screenplay award for the flim.)

Martin Scorsese's documentary No Direction Home: Bob Dylan was also set to premiere at the festival. (AP)"