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By Howard Burns
(July 14, 2009)

Jon Amiel's "Creation," the story of Charles Darwin's personal struggle between his own evolutionary beliefs and those of his deeply religious wife, will have its world premiere as the opening film of the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, it was announced Tuesday.

Written by John Collee and based on Randal Keynes' Darwin biography "Annie's Box," "Creation" (U.K.) stars Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly and Jeremy Northam.

It will screen on Sept. 10 on the first evening of the festival that runs through Sept. 19.

Also unveiled Tuesday were four Gala presentations and 18 Special Presentations featuring a host of notable filmmakers such as Jane Campion, Steven Soderbergh, Neil Jordan and Bruce Beresford, and performers who include Mariah Carey, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Ricky Gervais, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Clive Owen, Sissy Spacek and Kristin Scott Thomas.

Among the films that will receive a Gala Presentation is the world premiere of Aaron Schneider's "Get Low" (U.S.), about a man (Duvall) in a small town who plans his own funeral while he's still alive in order to resolve an old murder case. Murray and Spacek co-star.

Also getting gala treatment is "The Invention of Lying" (U.S.) from Gervais and co-director Matthew Robinson. The comedy is set in a world where no one has ever lied until a writer (Gervais) finds there can be an upside to fibbing. Jennifer Garner co-stars.

The other picks for Gala Presentations are "Max Manus" (Norway/Denmark/Germany) from directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, which is based on the true story of the legendary Norwegian Resistance fighter in World War II; and "Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push' by Sapphire Lee Daniels," a favorite at this year's Sundance fest.

Films ticketed for Special Presentations include:

• "The Boys Are Back" (Australia/U.K.); directed by Scott Hicks; stars Clive Owen;
• "Bright Star" (U.K./Australia); directed by Jane Campion; stars Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish;
• "City of Life and Death" (China); directed by Lu Chuan; stars Liu Ye;
• "Cracks" (Ireland); directed by Jordan Scott; stars Eva Green;
• "Hadewijch" (France); directed by Bruno Dumont; stars Julie Sokolowski;
• "The Informant!" (U.S.); directed by Steven Soderbergh; stars Matt Damon and Melanie Lynskey;
• "Leaves of Grass" (U.S.); directed by Tim Blake Nelson; stars Edward Norton, Melanie Lynskey and Susan Sarandon;
• "London River" (U.K./France/Algeria); directed by Rachid Bouchareb; stars Brenda Blethyn;
• "Mao's Last Dancer" (Australia/U.S./China); directed by Bruce Beresford; stars Bruce Greenwood and Kyle MacLachlan;
• "Moloch Tropical" (Haiti/France); directed by Raoul Peck;
• "Mother" (South Korea); directed by Bong Joon-ho;
• "Ondine" (Ireland/U.S.); directed by Neil Jordan; stars Colin Farrell and Stephen Rea;
• "Partir" (France); directed by Catherine Corsini; stars Kristin Scott Thomas;
• "Scheherazade Tell Me a Story" (Egypt); directed by Yousry Nasrallah;
• "Solitary Man" (U.S.); directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien; stars Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary Louise Parker and Jenna Fischer;
• "Valhalla Rising" (Denmark/U.K.); directed by Nicolas Winding Refn;
• "Vengeance" (Hong Kong/France); directed by Johnnie To; stars Johnny Hallyday;
• "The Vintner's Luck" (New Zealand/France); directed by Niki Caro

(from left to right: photos couresy Warner Bros., Miramax and Lionsgate)