By Afshan Farooqui, August 27, 2008

The Toronto Film Festival is about to commence for the current year. From September 4th through September 13th, the city of Toronto hosts one of the most important events in the film industry. Cinema from around the world is the guest of honor as directors unveil their best. But, Toronto is really the first step towards what is commonly known as award season. The festival hosts many of the films that hope to make it to the top of the Oscar and Golden Globe lists.

Director Spike Lee's (SLEE) Miracle at St. Anna (MSANA) will be a major premiere. The film is an adaptation of a James McBride's novel. Four African-American soldiers get separated from their unit when one of the tries to save an Italian boy. Trapped behind enemy lines, they must fight a war for a country that barely recognizes their existence. The film is expected to be one of the festival's biggest screenings.

Brad Pitt (BPITT) is no stranger to Toronto. Burn After Reading (BAFRD) casts him as an everyday joe who gets a hold of a memoir written by a CIA agent. George Clooney (GCLOO) plays the CIA agent who is frantic after losing his work. The film is directed by the Coen Brothers (COEN) who were a major presence last year with No Country for Old Men.

Flash of Genius (FLGEN) stars Greg Kinnear (GKINN) as a man who was done wrong by automakers. Kinnear plays a man who invented windshield wipers, only to be swindled out of his royalties. He eventually won 30 million dollars but not before driving himself and his wife crazy.

RocknRolla (RNRLA) is Guy Ritchie's (GRITC) comes back after his marriage and career suicide to Madonna. The film is vintage Ritchie, with gangsters, corrupt politicians, petty thugs and of course, millions of dollars.

A bevy of talented actresses populate The Secret Life of Bees (SLFBE), the adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's novel. Dakota Fanning (DFANN), Jennifer Hudson (JHUDS), Queen Latifah (QLATI), Sophie Okonedo (SOKON) and Paul Bettany (PBETT) star in the film about a young girl looking for the truth about her dead mother. Along with her nanny, she meets three sisters who sell honey for a living.

Finally, Keira Knightley (KKNIG) is set to make heads turn with her tale of gossip and high living in The Duchess (DUCHS). Knightley plays the role of an ancestor of the late Princess Diana who also lived a notorious, tabloid life. The Duchess is one of the most talked about films of the year and its screening at Toronto is expected to make it an Oscar favorite.

These are a few of the well known films hoping to get the buzz. Check back next week for continuing coverage of the 2008 Toronto Film Festival.