TORONTO - The recession's impact on next month's Toronto International Film Festival remains to be seen, but movies from top-drawer directors including Atom Egoyan and Neil Jordan are still up for grabs.
Festival organizers have unveiled a list of dozens of films that have yet to secure distribution deals going into the movie marathon that kicks off Sept. 10.
Among them is "Chloe," a sexual thriller helmed by Toronto's Egoyan and starring Hollywood heavyweights Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore.
E1 Entertainment Canada announced last week it has acquired the Canadian distribution rights to the film, which will have its world premiere at the festival.
Also on the market is the mermaid fairy tale "Ondine," directed by Oscar-winner Jordan with topliner Colin Farrell playing a fisherman.
The Charles Darwin biopic "Creation" is also seeking distribution.
So is "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits," starring Natalie Portman as a newlywed grieving the loss of her newborn.
Buyers can also still bid on "The Joneses," in which Demi Moore and David Duchovny portray a seemingly perfect couple with a secret.
Then there's "Dorian Gray," starring Colin Firth and based on the Oscar Wilde novel, and the documentary "Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel" from Brigitte Berman.
Over 3,000 industry professionals are expected to attend the festival, which runs through Sept. 19.
The festival has a designated sales and industry office to facilitate movie purchases and foster relationships between buyers, agents and moviemakers.
Last year, "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke was picked up for U.S. distribution at the Toronto festival and went on to nab two Oscar nominations.
