Canadian filmmakers Ed Gass-Donnelly, Denis Villeneuve and Patrick Lussier have made Variety magazine’s top 10 directors to watch in 2011.

The Canuck helmers were chosen through a poll of industry insiders conducted by the U.S. trade newspaper’s film critics and reporters.

Gass-Donnelly, Lussier and Villeneuve will be feted at a 10 To Watch event January 9 at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Past recipients of the Variety honor include Canadian directors Sarah Polley and Jeremy Podeswa.

Gass-Donnelly was named this year as an up-and-comer for his latest dramatic feature, Small Town Murder Songs (pictured), which will open theatrically in Canada on February 18.

And Villeneuve is securing critical and box office acclaim for his latest feature, Incendies.

Also named on the 2011 Ten To Watch list is Vancouver-based director Patrick Lussier, who has just released his latest movie, Drive Angry.

Lussier’s earlier editing work earned him Gemini award nominations for the telefilms, Heads and Adrift.