UK writer-director Steven Poliakoff’s war-time thriller Glorious 39 will make its world premiere at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival, as TIFF added eight Special Presentations to its lineup today.

Selections also include the North American premieres of Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces, Todd Solondz’s Life During Wartime and the world premieres of Japanese auteur Yoichi Sai’s Kamui and Italian filmmaker Renato De Maria’s The Front Line (Prima Linea).

Set on the eve of World War II and based on real events, Glorious 39 stars Romola Garai as a young woman who stumbles across evidence of a Nazi appeasement plot. Supporting players include Bill Nighy, Julie Christie, David Tennant and Christopher Lee. Starring Kenichi Matsuyama, Kamui is described as an epic adventure of a fugitive ninja. Set during the political upheaval of 1970s Italy, The Front Line is the story of lovers who are also members of a terrorist organization.

Other Special Presentations making their North American or international premiere are Jacques Audiard’s A Prophet and Juan Jose Campanella’s Argentina-Spain co-production The Secret Of Their Eyes.

TIFF also announced a raft of titles for its Discovery section including the feature directorial debuts of two actresses, Samantha Morton’s The Unloved and Rachel Ward’s Beautiful Kate.