'Score: A Hockey Musical' opens 35th Toronto International Film Festival

Oh you Canadians! What could be more apropos than the Toronto International Film Festival opening with the world premier Gala Presentation of Score: A Hockey Musical on Sept. 9, 2010?

Written and directed by Michael McGowan (One Week, Saint Ralph), the film is the story of a teenage hockey star who lives the Canadian dream of being discovered on ice. Naturally, he goes from obscurity to fame overnight.

The film stars Olivia Newton-John (Grease, Glee), singer/songwriter Marc Jordan and newcomers Noah Reid and Allie MacDonald. Co-stars include Stephen McHattie (Watchmen, The Rocket), John Pyper-Ferguson (Hard Core Logo, Brothers & Sisters) and Brandon Firla (Little Mosque on the Prairie, Billable Hours).

There are cameos by music artists Nelly Furtado, Hawksley Workman and John McDermott; journalists George Stroumboulopoulos and Evan Solomon; sports anchor Steve Kouleas; hockey dad Walter Gretzky; and hockey star Theo Fleury.

Score: A Hockey Musical features 19 original songs with lyrics written by McGowan, and featuring music from Barenaked Ladies, Olivia Newton-John, Amy Sky and Marc Jordan, and five songs that Hawksley Workman contributed. The film opens in theatres on Oct. 22, 2010.

The 35th annual Toronto International Film Festival is the leading public film festival in the world, screening more than 300 films from 60+ countries. It runs Sept. 9-19, 2010.