This column highlights festival titles that are attracting the interest of buyers and distributors.

*Inspirations

The festival has the world premiere of the first Michael Apted doc in three years. Since Moving the Mountain, the veteran British director of the Seven-Up series has been busy with the so-so dramas of Nell and Extreme Measures.

Here, he returns to the documentary form he is so adept at handling. Both ambitiously and playfully, he explores precisely what it is that inspires artists and how it is these elements of inspiration find their way into the pieces of work. His subjects range from David Bowie to Roy Lichtenstein and choreographer Edward Lock.

Clear Blue Sky Productions (see story this page) holds all rights to the film.

Press and industry screening:

Friday, Sept. 5, 3 p.m.

Sheraton 2

Public screenings:

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2 p.m.

Varsity 2

Thursday, Sept. 11, 2 p.m.

Varsity 2

*The Hanging Garden

This world premiere – which opens Perspective Canada – is receiving positive notice from Canadian critics. First-time writer/director Thom Fitzgerald has been praised for his dark humor and intelligence.

After a 10-year absence, 25-year-old, gay Sweet William (Chris Leavins) returns home to rural Nova Scotia for his sister’s wedding. When he left behind his drunken father, his silenced mother and his brash sister, he was a 300-pound teenager. Now, a lanky young man, Sweet William has to face his first love, who happens to be his sister’s groom.

The soundtrack features Ashley MacIsaac, perhaps the best-known name on the project, along with Sarah Polley (The Sweet Hereafter) and Kerry Fox (An Angel at My Table). Not a lot of commercial potential, even with a strong, if little-known cast, but, with a lot of fancy art direction and lush camerawork, it is being classified as art house.

Also, the film has been pegged as a serious contender for the Toronto-City Award for best first Canadian feature, with a cash prize of $15,000.

Cineplex Odeon Films is handling domestic distribution while Alliance Independent Films has worldwide rights.

Press and industry screening:

Sunday, Sept. 7, 9:45 p.m.

Backstage 2

Public screenings:

Friday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 6, 10:30 a.m.

Uptown 2

*Twilight of the Ice Nymphs

Guy Maddin’s films have never been an easy sell, concedes one industry insider, and yet all of his feature titles – from Tales From the Gimli Hospital to Careful – have received u.s. theatrical distribution, and he maintains loyal audiences in Germany, in France and in the u.k.

With Twilight, Maddin once again creates a netherworld; this time it’s Mandragora, where the blinding sun is ceaseless and colors are somewhere between Crayola and painterly. Tentatively described as ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream on acid,’ the story follows a sordid love tale which features a statue of Venus, a mysterious beauty, a political prisoner and a one-legged Svengalian character.

In addition to Maddin’s solid reputation, the cast is superb and includes Shelley Duvall, R.H. Thomson, Pascal Bussieres and Alice Krige. There’s been a bit of a tussle regarding the lead actor, a Canadian now living in London, who removed his name from the credits when he discovered his voice was dubbed. Who could tell? The sound, molded by Russ Dyck, is intentionally and highly artificial.

Alliance Releasing is handling domestic distribution and Alliance Independent Films holds worldwide rights.

Press and industry screening:

Monday, Sept. 8, 9:30 p.m.

John Spotton Theatre

Public screenings:

Saturday, Sept. 6, 9:30 p.m.

Varsity 2

Sunday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m.

Cumberland 2

Other titles of note screening for press and industry today: The Eel, Shohei Imamura’s winner of this year’s Camera d’Or; the self-hyped Pitch, Clement Virgo’s The Planet of Junior Brown and Clandestins.