Jackie Chan will attend as guest of honour, while MPAA chief Chris Dodd is among the first to confirm participation.

Toronto International Film Festival artistic director Cameron Bailey (pictured) announced the date on Tuesday (Jul 3) of the event, which will take part in the new Shangri-La Hotel.

“As both a key launch pad for films in North America and home to huge audiences for Asian cinema, we think Toronto can be a prime meeting place for the Asian and western film industries,” Bailey said.

“The Shangri-La Hotel Toronto Asian Film Summit is our humble attempt to offer a platform where industry leaders can foster deeper relationships, generate new ideas and find new business opportunities.”

The summit is designed to foster stronger ties between the industries of Asia and the West. The full line-up will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

“With the opening of the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto now has a highly respected Asian hospitality brand just minutes from the festival’s own home, TIFF Bell Lightbox,” Bailey added. “It just made sense to celebrate the surging strength of Asia’s film industries now. We’re thrilled that people of the calibre of Jackie Chan and Senator Chris Dodd will be a part of it.”

The Toronto International Film Festival is scheduled to run from Sept 6-16.