The Toronto International Film Festival opened with far more than its usual share of bloodshed on Thursday night as Passchendaele, Paul Gross’ tale of Canadians in the trenches in the First World War, unspooled for the opening-night audience at Roy Thomson Hall.

‘We are not a people generally known for brash displays of patriotism. Tonight, let’s forget that,’ said festival co-director Cameron Bailey, introducing the fictional and at times harrowing account of the titular 1917 battle in Belgium, a $20-million effort aimed at mass-market crowds and, as such, something of a departure for festival organizers.

The screening was also preceded by a military band, in full regalia, from nearby Fort York, which performed both the Vimy Ridge fanfare and The Maple Leaf Forever, Canada’s unofficial anthem prior to O Canada.

The film has been a long and personal project for Gross, inspired by his grandfather’s tales of the war. He spoke solemnly of Canada’s losses and emerging identity during the war, but also joked with the crowd that while making Passchendaele he learned that ‘the trick to directing is just to hire people smarter and more talented than you.’

He also produced, with Niv Fichman of Rhombus Media among others, and stars in the picture, appearing alongside Caroline Dhavernas, Joe Dinicol, Brian Jensen and Gil Bellows.

Fichman, no stranger to pulling together multi-territory coproductions, also has Blindness at TIFF. He noted that it was hard to get overseas financing for Passchendaele because of the picture’s very Canadian story. In the end, its record-breaking budget came entirely from within Canada, including $5.5 million from the Government of Alberta.

Indeed, most of the picture takes place in the western province, with Gross as a shell-shocked doughboy home from the war and smitten with a nurse, played by Dhavernas. At about the halfway point the action shifts to the war and the short but gruesome battle, also shot in Alberta.

A deal is in the works with Alliance Films to provide copies of the movie to all schools, said Gross.

The opening gala also saw organizers praise Dusty Cohl — one of the festival’s founding fathers, who died earlier this year — with a short film by Barry Avrich. Norman Jewison, Roger Ebert and Jay Switzer among others praised the famed maverick for his passion and personality — leading to the unveiling of a new fund in his honor to introduce emerging filmmakers to the industry.

‘He really did epitomize everything that is wonderful about this festival,’ said TIFF Group CEO Piers Handling.

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Watch for Playback Daily‘s extended coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival in our special weekend editions, Sept. 6 and 7!