Jean-Marc Vallée’s awards contender Wild will receive its East Coast Premiere as the opening night screening at the festival, set to run from October 9-13.

Organisers announced that Laura Dern will be the focus of an on-stage conversation on October 11.

Bennett Miller’s awards contender Foxcatcher will screen on October 11 as the Saturday Centerpiece. Star Mark Ruffalo will take part in an on-stage interview the following day.

As previously announced, the East Coast premiere of The Homesman is the Sunday Centerpiece on October 12.

“Bennett Miller and Jean-Marc Vallée are two of the most exciting filmmakers working today, each of whose last films were nominated for the Academy Award for best picture,” said HIFF artistic director David Nugent. “Their latest films continue their evolution as artists and we are so proud to share their work with our audiences.”

The 15th year of Films of Conflict & Resolution programme comprises four documentaries and a narrative film, one of which will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a panel discussion after its screening. The 2014 Brizzolara Family Foundation Award will go to E-Team.

The films are Orlando Von Einsiedel’s Virunga; Ross Kauffman and Katy Chevigny’s E-Team; Rolf de Heer’s Charlie’s Country; Tamara Erde’s This Is My Land; and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look Of Silence.