Irish actor turned writer/director Stuart Townsend will launch his debut feature film, ‘Battle In Seattle’, at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival. The film will premiere in the Special Presentations programme which runs from 6 – 15 September.
Townsend’s feature is based on one of the most incendiary uprisings in a generation, taking an in-depth look at the five days that rocked the world in 1999 as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in protest of the World Trade Organization. Different points of view from a cross section of society are intertwined - from protesters and police to delegates and doctors - who intentionally or accidentally find themselves on the streets of Seattle on those last days of the millennium.
The film features an all-star ensemble cast that includes Andre Benjamin, Woody Harrelson, Joshua Jackson, Ray Liotta, Michelle Rodriguez, Channing Tatum and Charlize Theron.
Dubliner Stuart Townsend has previously starred in feature films including ‘Shooting Fish’, ‘Queen of the Damned’ and ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen’. His starring role opposite Kate Hudson in the 2000 Irish pic ‘About Adam’ won the actor legions of fans both at home and abroad.
Townsend developed the script for ‘Battle In Seattle’ over a number of years and shot the controversial film in Canada late last year. He joins other Irish directors Neil Jordan and Terry George whose latest offerings ‘The Brave One’ and ‘Reservation Road’ also appear in the Toronto Special Presentations lineup.
Andrew Dominik’s ‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’, Joe Wright’s ‘Atonement’, Sean Penn’s ‘Into the Wild’ and Todd Haynes’ ‘I’m Noth There’ are also late additions to Canadian festival’s slate.
