TORONTO 鈥� Neve Campbell is headed to the Toronto International Film Festival as executive producer of a Karen Kain ballet documentary.
The dancer-turned-screen star says "Swan Song" is an extremely personal project, noting she trained at Canada's National Ballet School and considers ballet her first love.
Production company Visitor Media says Campbell is expected to attend the world premiere at the festival, which runs Sept. 7 to 17.
The 鈥淪cream鈥� and 鈥淧arty of Five鈥� actor would assure the fest some star power amid an ongoing Hollywood actors strike that prevents unionized performers from promoting their work.
鈥淪wan Song鈥� follows Kain as she directs a group of dancers in a production of 鈥淪wan Lake鈥� on the eve of her retirement from the National Ballet of Canada.
It鈥檚 billed as an 鈥渋ntimate, character-driven鈥� look at the conflicts, injuries and sacrifices of its subjects who, 鈥渋n various ways, confront ideals of race, class and body standards.鈥�
The feature documentary is set for theatrical release Sept. 22. It will also air as a four-part limited series on CBC Gem and CBC TV, premiering Nov. 22.
鈥淭his project is deeply personal to me given my longtime admiration for Karen Kain and the National Ballet of Canada, starting with my time as a student at Canada鈥檚 National Ballet School,鈥� Campbell said Tuesday in a release.
鈥淏allet was my first love, and 鈥楽wan Song鈥� beautifully captures the incredible devotion, artistry and sacrifices that dancers make in their pursuit of creating something beautiful and meaningful. I鈥檓 so proud of our team and I can鈥檛 wait to celebrate the film.鈥�
Other Canadian films headed to TIFF include director Leigh Brooks鈥� rock doc 鈥淗ate to Love: Nickelback,鈥� Chlo茅 Robichaud鈥檚 orchestra drama 鈥淒ays of Happiness,鈥� Sophie Dupuis鈥檚 queer romance 鈥淪olo鈥� and Atom Egoyan鈥檚 opera feature 鈥淪even Veils,鈥� starring Amanda Seyfried.
Also bound for TIFF are auteur Bertrand Bonello鈥檚 France/Canada feature 鈥淭he Beast鈥� with L茅a Seydoux, and Dominic Savage鈥檚 Canada/United Kingdom film 鈥淐lose to You,鈥� starring Elliot Page.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2023.
The Canadian Press
