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Traditionally, Canadian films have opened the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s only natural – one of the biggest film festivals taking place in Canada makes it the perfect springboard for Canuck cinema. Last year it was Paul Gross’ Passchendaele. And before that: Fugitive Pieces, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, and Water. But Darwin is once again changing things. That meddlesome man!
The Hollywood Reporter](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i1a3369487512024dd8e43b94e7cbc324) posts that TIFF has picked their opening film, and it will be the Charles Darwin film Creation](Creation (2009) - IMDb) from director Jon Amiel. (Starring the husband and wife team of Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly.) Fest co-director Cameron Bailey says: “By telling a story on many levels, weaving scenes from past and present, this depiction of Darwin promises to deeply move audiences by drawing them into the conflicted mind of a man who presented a concept that changed the world.” But is it a story that needed to be told opening night? And replace all Canadian selections? That doesn’t bode well for the fest’s opinion of the country’s films this year.
In brighter news: Following the first 24 films to be announced, there’s a whole new list of films that have been picked. This round includes a number of fest favorites and upcoming releases like Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, The Invention of Lying, Bright Star, and The Informant. You can head to THR to see them all.