Is There Anybody There? [RY Sunday, 3pm]

Is There Anybody There? John Crowley, United Kingdom

World Premiere

From the director of Boy A, comes a wise and charming story of an unlikely friendship between a scruffy former magician and a little boy with a morbid streak Ten year-old Edward (Bill Milner) has become increasingly obsessed with death and the afterlife since his parents turned their house into a retirement home. Edward’s is a lonely and peculiar existence – until he meets Clarence (Michael Caine) who introduces him to wonders in the here-and-now.

The Country Teacher [AMC7 Sunday Noon]

The Country Teacher Bohdan Sláma, Czech Republic/Germany/France

North American Premiere

When a gifted young teacher takes a job at a grammar school in the country, he quickly forms a strong bond with Marie, a local farm owner. But their friendship is challenged by the arrival of the teacher’s jealous ex-lover from the city, who, upon discovering that the teacher is harbouring a secret affection for Marie’s 17-year-old son, plots to expose him. From the director of Something Like Happiness (TIFF 2005).

Faubourg 36 [SB1 Sunday, 9am]

Faubourg 36 Christophe Barratier, France

A dazzling musical from the director of Les Choristes (TIFF 2004), Faubourg 36 is set between December 1935 and July 1936 in a working-class neighbourhood on the northeastern edge of Paris. The springtime election of a left-wing government brings wild new hopes, yet also sees the rise of extremist ideas. Three unemployed stage workers decide to produce a "hit show "and occupy the music hall where they formally worked. The stage is set for a short-lived but wonderful adventure.

Laila’s Birthday [AMC2 Saturday 6:30pm]

Laila’s Birthday Rashid Masharawi, Palestine/Tunisia/The
Netherlands

World Premiere

A Ramala cab driver is intent on getting home in time to bring a gift and cake for his daughter’s tenth birthday. But the challenges of day-to-day life in this conflicted region will become formidable obstacles to his mission.

Machan [SB1 Saturday 3:45pm]

Machan Uberto Pasolini, United Kingdom/Italy/Germany/Sri Lanka

North American Premiere

Convinced that submitting a bogus application to the German Embassy is not the worst thing one can do, a group of young Sri Lankans set out to assemble the Sri Lanka National Handball Team from a mismatched collection of friends, colleagues,
creditors, policemen – anyone willing to stretch the truth in exchange for a one way ticket to the West. Based on a true story, Machan is the first film from The Full Monty producer Uberto Pasolini.

Three Monkeys [SB1 Saturday, 12:45pm]

Three Monkeys Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey/France/Italy

North American Premiere

Winner of Best Director at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Climates, TIFF 2006) tells the story of a dislocated family battling the odds to stay together by covering up the truth.

Appaloosa [SB2 Saturday, 9am (Opens: September 17)]

Ed Harris, USA

World Premiere

Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger and Jeremy Irons star in the Western Appaloosa, adapted from the Robert B. Parker novel. Set in the Old West territory of New Mexico, Appaloosa revolves around a pair of hired guns (Harris and Mortensen) who come to clean up a dangerous town run by a ruthless, powerful rancher (Irons) and his band of outlaws. While boldly bringing new order to the town, the two fearless lawmen meet a provocative outsider (Zellweger) whose unconventional ways threaten to destroy their decade-old bond. Appaloosa is co-written and directed by Ed Harris.