Paul Gross’ war film Hyena Road will open the 35th annual edition in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from September 17-24.

Hyena Road 1

The Festival’s Closing Gala presentation on Thursday, Sept. 24 will be Deepa Mehta’s gangster film Beeba Boys on September 24, while Patricia Rozema’s Into The Forest has secured the new Spotlight Gala slot on September 19.

The Cinéma En Français S.V.P. initiative features Philippe Falardeau’s Guibord S’en Va-t-en Guerre (My Internship In Canada) and Jacques Audiard’s Palme d’or winner Dheepan. The initiative will highlight feature four additional French-Canadian and four French films.

2015 Rogers Special Presentations encompass Born To Be Blue starring Ethan Hawke as jazz musician Chet Baker, Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan and Atom Egoyan’s Remember.

“Our audience will find that in this year’s programme in particular the diversity of culture and community is on display like never before”, said executive director Wayne Carter. “As new technology changes allow filmmakers to create their stories in more austere circumstances the incredible effect is the ability to hear a broader range of voices from around the globe.”

The festival’s traditional market element, Strategic Partners, will take place from September 17-20. Latin America is the spotlight region and keynote speakers scheduled to attend include Carol producer Elizabeth Karlsen.

Strategic Partners will also host the inaugural dramatic television incubator and the second edition of the project exchange with Los Cabos International Film Festival, which will welcome Mexican producer and of Zensky Cine founder Elsa Reyes and her project Man By Man.

“The Dramatic Television Incubator is an extension of the core goals of Strategic Partners, strategically placing projects in the hands of those who are in a position to bring it life,” said director of Strategic Partners, Laura Mackenzie.

“A hand-picked group of experts have been specifically chosen to provide each project the creative and market advice it needs to be successful.”

The UK and Canadian producers and financiers behind Jonathan Strange & Mister Norrell will present a case study, while a second panel will look at the life cycle of content financing and distribution.

For more on the full line-up click here.