French footballer-turned-actor Eric Cantona will accompany the international premiere of his first starring role, The Overeater (L'Outremangeur) at the Montreal World Film Festival (Aug 27-Sept 7).

Directed by Thierry Binisti, the film is a spin on the Beauty And The Beast fairytale in which the former Manchester United star plays a hugely obese policeman who forces a beautiful suspected murderer to dine with him for year if she wants to remain free.

The film was released in Paris earlier this year. It screens Out of Competition at the MWFF.