montreal: Two Canadian features are among 20 films vying for the Grand Prix des Ameriques, top prize in the official competition section at the Montreal World Film Festival, running Aug. 24 to Sept. 4.

wff directors Daniel Cauchard and Serge Losique unveiled an impressive program lineup for the festival’s 19th edition – 400 films from 63 countries, including 24 Canadian and Canadian coproduced feature-length titles in the Panorama Canada section.

Domestic titles in competition this year are Robert Menard’s L’enfant d’eau, and Jean-Marc Vallee’s feature film debut, Liste Noire. Film Tonic (formerly Max Films Communications) and Astral Distribution, respectively, are distributing.

Stephen Williams’ Soul Survivor will open the Panorama Canada section. Other domestic features on tap include Paul Cowan’s Lessons (National Film Board), James Purcell’s Fools Die Fast, the Bashar Shbib thriller The Mule and the Emeralds, and the Norma Bailey documentary sequel, The True Story of Linda M (nfb).

New at the Montreal International Film, TV and Video Market is The Production Exchange, an initiative aimed at bringing together international coproduction partners and financing.

Confirmed foreign participants at the ’95 market include Fox Lorber, hbo/Cinemax, New Line Cinema, Miramax, Twentieth Century Fox, Angelika Films and Viacom Pictures from the u.s.; British Sky Broadcasting, Electric Pictures, Film Four and Thames Television from the u.k.; and Canal +, France 3, President Films, Unifrance and Roissy Films from France.

This year’s festival tribute goes to Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two legendary animators who have worked together on Walt Disney pictures for 60 years.

The agenda also includes the Multimedia ’95 Symposium (Aug. 28-29) and the 26th annual Canadian Student Film Festival (Aug. 26-30).

The wff’s principal sponsors are Air Canada, present since the first festival 19 years ago, and Rothmans Ltee Film International. The festival now has an Internet address – //www.ffm-montreal.org.