The main challenge for the 31st annual Toronto International Film Festival (Sept. 7-16), with regards to its Canadian movie contingent, is how to drum up sufficient public interest despite the absence of the country's top-name directors.

"This is an unusual year for Canada, as the dominant players - Atom Egoyan, David Cronenberg, Denys Arcand - aren't around. So there's an interesting opening from which some Canadian films may pop out," says Noah Cowan, TIFF co-director.

Unable to rely on the usual suspects, organizers will look to homegrown up-and-comers and less well-known filmmaking vets to garner their share of press and business.

Northern filmmakers Zacharias Kunuk and Norman Cohn clinched this year's opening night gala slot for their Inuit epic The Journals of Knud Rasmussen (see story, p. T4) - their follow-up to 2001's Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner - ahead of its release in southern Canada three weeks later through the currently troubled Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution.

Also getting the red carpet treatment at Roy Thomson Hall, as part of a two-day press junket, is the Alzheimer's drama Away from Her, Sarah Polley's debut turn as feature director (p. T6).

"[This film] defined my life for a long time," says the acclaimed actress-turned-helmer. "Now I'll see if all of my ideas will speak to people." For the world premiere, Polley will be backed by venerable star wattage in the form of Julie Christie, Gordon Pinsent, Olympia Dukakis, Michael Murphy and Wendy Crewson.

Another possible breakout is Guy Maddin, Winnipeg's auteur of the absurd, whose feature Brand Upon the Brain! (p. T7) may impress like his Genie Award-winning short film Heart of the World did in 2000. Both are loving throwbacks to early cinema - silent works shot in black and white.

"I'd be surprised if it didn't have a similar impact," says Steve Gravestock, TIFF associate director, Canadian programming. In a Special Presentation at the Elgin Theatre, Brand Upon the Brain! will be accompanied by a nine-member orchestra, a young male singer and a narrator.

"It's crazy," Gravestock says of the film. "It's kind of his biography. It's bananas. I can't think of anyone but Guy who could make that sort of film."

Also likely to garner audience interest is Fido (p. T8), Andrew Currie's zombie comedy-drama making its world premiere as the Canada First! opener on Sept. 7. Billy Connolly, Carrie-Anne Moss, Dylan Baker, Henry Czerny and Tim Blake Nelson star in the genre picture about the undead showing up in a suburban town as house pets and domestic workers. The film has already sold into 20 territories.

A film that comes to TIFF with both buzz and some key markets open is Philippe Falardeau's French-language Canada/France/Belgium copro Congorama (p. T11), follow-up to the director's Genie and Jutra winner La Moitié gauche du frigo (2000). It screens as a Special Presentation after having closed the Director's Fortnight in Cannes.