New Sayles, Gosling films set to unspool at Toronto film fest

New projects from celebrated indie film director John Sayles, Canadian actor Ryan Gosling and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn are among the latest additions to the Toronto International Film Festival's upcoming lineup.

Festival organizers announced on Thursday five additions to this year's special presentations program, which showcases "major films, major stars and major filmmakers."

• Honeydripper: The Sayles-directed film revolves around a down-on-his-luck Southern juke joint owner who recruits a talented drifter to help revive his club.
• The Girl in the Park: An exploration of family and loss by Tony and Pulitzer winner Auburn, the film is his feature directorial debut and stars Sigourney Weaver and Kate Bosworth.
• Lars and the Real Girl: The film by up-and-coming director Craig Gillespie stars the Oscar nominated Gosling as a socially inept man living a boring existence until he meets the girl of his dreams: a made-to-order, life-size doll.
• Then She found Me: Actress Helen Hunt makes her feature directorial debut and stars in this film about an adopted woman's attempt to have a child of her own while dealing with marital breakdown, the surprise appearance of her birth mother and a budding relationship.
• Romulus, My Father: Based on philosopher Raimond Gaita's acclaimed memoir and adapted for screen by poet and playwright Nick Drake, the film is a portrait of Gaita's European immigrant parents and the struggles they faced in Australia and in raising him.

Organizers previously announced the Coen brothers film No Country for Old Men as one of this year's special presentations. Other films set to unspool at this fall's event include Cate Blanchett's return in Elizabeth: The Golden Age; Cannes winners Silent Light and The Mourning Forest; and the CanadiantitleFugitive Pieces, the opening night gala.

Further additions to the TIFF lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world's premiere cinema events, will run Sept. 6-15.