Toronto: The 27th Toronto International Film Festival kicks off on September 5, reeling out foreign flicks for distributors and devoted cinephiles, a star-studded Hollywood lineup and a somber marking of the September 11 anniversary.

Signs that Hogtown was turning into a temporary Tinseltown were already evident by midday on September 5, with limos clogging midtown streets near luxury hotels ahead of the opening gala featuring Canadian director Atom Egoyan's film 'Ararat'.

The film, which screened at Cannes in May, explores the death of Armenians at Ottoman Turks' hands in the early 20th century.

The 10-day festival, considered among the world's most important, as it is a gateway into North American distribution, will un-spool 344 films from 50 countries for the public as well as film buyers and the press.

Dozens of actors, including Antonio Banderas, Catherine Deneuve, Dustin Hoffman, Sophia Loren and Michelle Pfeiffer, are in town to promote their latest offerings, sprinkling some Hollywood glitter on the festival.

Juliette Binoche, John Cusack, Ralph Fiennes, Johnny Hallyday, William Hurt, Benoit Jacquot, Julianne Moore, Lynn Redgrave, Jean Reno, Sissy Spacek, Hilary Swank, Denzel Washington, Sigourney Weaver and Elijah Wood are also expected in town for this year's festival.

Within the 27,292 minutes of film reeling out during the festival will be 264 features, a majority (54 per cent) of which will be screened in a language other than English.

Among the 69 feature films making their world premiere here are, 'The Four Feathers', Shekhar Kapur's 'Elizabeth' starring Heath Ledger and Kate Hudson; 'Jet Lag', starring Reno and Binoche and chronicling a chance romance at an airport; and 'White Oleander', by Peter Kosminsky, starring Pfeiffer and Renee Zellweger.

Another world premiere, 'Max', by first-time director Menno Meyjes and starring Cusack and Leelee Sobieski, looks at the artful yearnings of a young Adolf Hitler.

"From the Masters program honoring experienced greats to our Discovery programme for first or second-time directors, from Contemporary World Cinema to Real to Reel (documentaries), our screens reflect a rich tapestry of contemporary life around the globe," said festival director Piers Handling.

French filmmaker Robert Guediguian will be spotlighted with festival screenings of eight of his films, including 'Marie-Jo et Ses Deux Amours' ('Marie-Jo and Her Two Lovers'), which is making its North American debut.