By Saibal Chatterjee, IANS

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), now in its 31st year and bigger and brighter than ever before, kicks off with the screening of the Canadian-Danish co-production "The Journals of Knud Rasmussen".

The 10-day festival, which is second only to Cannes in size and impact, begins Thursday.

"The Journals of Knud Rasmussen", jointly helmed by Zacharias Kunuk and cinematographer Norman Cohn, is a poetic epic that blends myth and history to explore the realities of the first contacts that European explorers had with the Inuit, the indigenous people of the Arctic region.

The unusual feature film is expected to set the tone for a glittering festival that brings together big-name potential blockbusters, cutting-edge experimental films, the latest works of established world masters and an array of debut efforts from around the globe.

TIFF this year will present a record number of 350-plus films from more than 60 countries. The festival is expected to record upwards of 300,000 paid admissions.

Hosted by Canada's largest city, the festival has established itself not only as the gateway to the lucrative North American market, but also as the earliest buzz-detector for those that are in the run-up to the Oscars.

Owing to its proximity to Los Angeles and New York, it draws a large number of movie stars from the world's most influential film industry, Hollywood.

This year, TIFF will receive the largest contingent of stars ever. Among those expected to put in appearances are Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Lopez, Jude Law, Russell Crowe, Sean Penn, Anthony Hopkins, Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett.

Brad Pitt, who had given the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year the miss, will personally promote Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's critically acclaimed "Babel" at TIFF.

TIFF will also host Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, John Abraham, Arshad Warsi and Nandita Das.

Amitabh, Shahrukh and Rani will represent Karan Johar's magnum opus, "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna", at its Gala Presentation of Sep 10, while John and Arshad will be on the "Kabul Express" bandwagon. Documentary filmmaker Kabir Khan's feature debut is in line for a Special Presentation screening.

Nandita is the lead actress of yet another Indian film in the official TIFF line-up, Chitra Palekar's debut Marathi-language film "Maati Maay", adapted from "Bayen", a celebrated Mahasweta Devi story about a female grave-keeper.

Film buffs attending TIFF this year will look forward in particular to legendary German director Werner Herzog's American production "Rescue Dawn", Margerethe von Trotta's "I Am the Other Woman" and Spanish maverick Pedro Almodovar's "Volver".

TIFF will also, among numerous other high points, see the world premiere of Tarsem Singh's second feature, "The Fall", and Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of the Mozart opera, "The Magic Flute", made to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the legendary composer.