Kicking off this year’s lineup for the Toronto International Film Festival’s Perspective Canada is writer/director Jeremy Podeswa’s North American debut of The Five Senses.

Produced by both Podeswa and Camelia Frieberg (The Sweet Hereafter) and starring Molly Parker (Kissed), Gabrielle Rose (The Sweet Hereafter), Daniel MacIvor (House) and Mary-Louise Parker (Fried Green Tomatoes), the romantic drama takes place over a three-day period in which a child goes missing. A thematic focus on the five senses is woven throughout the film as five characters, who live or work in the apartment building across from the park where the child was last seen, search for some sort of human connection.

In its premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the film, Podeswa’s second feature, evoked a roaring, five-minute standing ovation.

This year’s Perspective Canada boasts one gala, 19 features and 37 shorts, many of which are the works of Canada’s most acclaimed veterans.

Some of the films included are Lea Pool’s coming-of-age film Emporte-Moi, Michel Brault’s historical drama Quand Je Serai Parti…Vous Vivrez Encore, Jean Beaudin’s psychological drama Souvenirs Intimes, Mort Ransen’s magical tale Touched, Jerry Ciccoritti’s study of fate The Life Before This, Allan Moyle’s comedy New Waterford Girl, and John Paizs’ sci-fi parody Top of the Food Chain.

On the short front comes Sarah Polley’s directorial debut Don’t Think Twice, Harry Killas’ comedy Babette’s Feet, Robert Kennedy’s wry Hi I’m Steve and codirectors Wendy Tilby’s and Amanda Forbis’ When the Day Breaks, the winner of this year’s Palme d’Or for best animated short and the Grand Prize at the Annecy International Film Festival in June.

In a move of sheer graciousness, Atom Egoyan has withdrawn his film Felicia’s Journey from the competition for the Toronto-City Award for Best Canadian Feature, sponsored by Citytv and the City of Toronto since he has won the $25,000 prize four times.

For the third year, City also sponsors the Citytv Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film, worth $15,000.

The National Film Board, as part of its annual sponsorship of the festival, will again be presenting the NFB John Spotton Award for best Canadian short film, worth $10,000 ($2,500 in cash and $7,500 in technical services).