Two Canadian films have been selected for competition slots at Sundance 2010. Lixin Fan’s documentary Last Train Home, already bearing kudos from the IDFA in Amsterdam, will screen in the World Documentary competition, while Newfoundland writer/director Adriana Maggs will present her debut feature Grown Up Movie Star in the World Dramatic Competition.

Described as a ‘heartbreaking drama about a family in crisis,’ the latter stars Shawn Doyle (Big Love) and Tatiana Maslany. Doyle plays a washed-up former hockey star who is left to raise two daughters when his wife beats it for Hollywood. The cast also includes Andy Jones, Julia Kennedy, Jonny Harris, Mark O’Brien and a cameo by Mary Walsh. Alt-country rock band Elliott Brood provides the music.

Toronto-based Maggs’ writing credits include the TV series The Wilkinsons and Hatching, Matching & Dispatching. Shot on location in Flat Rock and St. John’s, the film is produced by Jill Knox-Gosse, Paul Rope, Doyle and Maggs. Mongrel Media is distributing in Canada.

Last Train Home, winner of the €12,500 first prize at the recently wrapped International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, follows a family of Chinese migrant workers on a journey with 200 million other peasants to reunite with their distant family. Director Fan was associate producer on the highly regarded doc Up The Yangtze. The new film is produced by Montreal production company EyeSteelFilm. KinoSmith has the film for Canada. International sales are through CAT&Docs.

As well, Canadian actor Elias Koteas is a featured player opposite Edie Falco in writer/director Eric Mendelsohn’s 3 Backyards, screening in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.