Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Award-winning Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films has had six titles selected for the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the key international film festivals this autumn, showcasing the broad range of distinctive films on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's current film slate.

Ayub Khan Din's follow-up to the internationally acclaimed East Is East, West Is West, will have its gala world première on Sunday 12 September at Toronto. Directed by Andy de Emmony, West Is West is a touching coming-of-age story that focuses on the turbulent relationship between the youngest Khan, Sajid (now 15 years old), and his father, 60-year-old George "Ghengis" Khan.

The film stars Om Puri, Linda Bassett and Aqib Khan and will be released in the UK in February 2011 via Icon Distribution.

Roland Joffe's feature debut Brighton Rock, a new screen adaptation of Graham Greene's 1939 classic novel, will have its world première at the festival in a special evening presentation on Monday 13 September.

Starring Sam Riley, Andrea Riseborough, Helen Mirren and John Hurt, Brighton Rock tells the story of razor-wielding teenager Pinkie (Riley) who is forced to marry a naΓ―ve waitress (Riseborough) after she stumbles on evidence linking Pinkie's gang to a murder.

The film, produced by Paul Webster for Kudos Pictures, will be released through Optimum Releasing in the UK in February 2011.

Also having its world première in Toronto will be Africa United (UK opening Friday 22 October through Pathe Pictures), the feature directorial debut of Debs Gardner-Paterson, written by Rhidian Brook.

This charming comic tale stars five young actors – Eriya Ndayambaje (Dudu), Roger Nsengiyumva (Fabrice), Sanyu Joanita Kintu (Beatrice), Sherrie Silver (Celeste) and Yves Dusenge (Foreman George) – in a tale of three Rwandan children who embark on an incredible journey in a bid to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.

The children take an epic 3,000-mile trip and gather a "dream team" of displaced kids through whose eyes viewers witness an Africa few have ever seen.

Ahead of its Friday 1 October release in the UK, via Paramount Pictures, Nigel Cole's Made In Dagenham will have its worldwide festival première in Toronto on Saturday 11 September.

The film, set in 1968, dramatises the true story of the female workers from Ford who managed, with the help of political firebrand Barbara Castle, to overturn an age-old hypocrisy in their fight for equal pay.

Sally Hawkins, Bob Hoskins, Miranda Richardson, Rosamund Pike, Daniel Mays, Andrea Riseborough and Jaime Winstone take starring roles. Written by Billy Ivory, and produced by Liz Karlsen and Stephen Woolley at Number 9 Films, the film will be released by Paramount Pictures.

Rounding out Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films' presence at Toronto this year will be the gloriously wicked comedy Tamara Drewe, which will have its North American premiere on Sunday 12 September, giving the film a high-profile platform for its impending US release.

The critically acclaimed film, which first debuted at this year's Cannes Film Festival, stars Gemma Arterton, Tamsin Greig and Dominic Cooper in the tale of a once shy, ugly teenager (Arterton) who reinvents herself as a smouldering femme fatale.

Directed by Stephen Frears, and written by Moira Buffini, the film was produced by Alison Owen, Tracey Seaward and Paul Trijbits and will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 10 September via Momentum Pictures.

First Grader, written by Ann Peacock, who adapted The Chronicles Of Narnia – The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, and directed by Justin Chadwick, will also be screening in the contemporary world cinema section at the festival.

The film tells the remarkable, true story of Kimani Maruge, an ex Mau Mau freedom fighter who fights for the right to go to school for the first time at the age of 84. David Thompson, Sam Feuer and Richard Harding are producing.

Commenting on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films' line-up at Toronto, Christine Langan, Creative Director of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films, said: "It's a great privilege to have six films selected at Toronto this year. I'm extremely grateful to our partners and the brilliant teams involved with each of these projects for their passion, commitment and individual voices.

"I'm very proud of the British talent on display with these projects. The range and diversity goes to the heart of what we're doing at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films and sends a very positive message about the filmmaking talent working in Britain today."

Currently in production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films are:

The Awakening, a supernatural period thriller starring Rebecca Hall and Dominic West, directed by Nick Murphy and produced by David Thompson, Julia Stannard and Sarah Curtis for Origin Pictures. StudioCanal are handling international sales.

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, starring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas, directed by Lasse Hallström, written by Simon Beaufoy and produced by Paul Webster. The Weinstein Company are handling international sales.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films' 2010 Toronto line-up follows last year's unprecedented presence at the festival, where it had nine titles in Toronto's 2009 line-up, including Jon Ameil's Creation; Stephen Poliakoff's Glorious 39; Scott Hicks's The Boys Are Back; Andrea Arnold's Bafta-winning Fish Tank; Jane Campion's Bright Star; Tom Hooper's The Damned United; Lone Scherfig's Bafta-winner An Education; Grant Heslov's The Men Who Stare At Goats; and Nicolas Winding Refn's Valhalla Rising.

Notes to Editors

Brighton Rock Studio Canal Features, Optimum Features, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films and UK Film Council present a Kudos Pictures production.

Africa United A PathΓ©, UK Film Council and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films production.

Made In Dagenham Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films and the UK Film Council present in association with Audley Films. A Nigel Cole film.

West Is West Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films presents a Leslee Udwin/Assassin Films production.

First Grader Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and UK Film Council present in association with Videovision and Lipsync A Sixth Sense/Origin Pictures production. A Justin Chadwick film.

Tamara Drewe West End Films, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Films and the UK Film Council present a Ruby Films production in association with Notting Hill Films. A Stephen Frears Film.

Coriolanus Hermetof Pictures, Kalkronkie LLP and Icon Entertainment International present in association with Magna Films.

LG