The first selections for the 37th annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) have been announced. The festival, which begins September 6th, will open with the sci-fi action film LOOPER by Rian Johnson (BRICK), which stars Bruce Willis & Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

This is the first time a sci-fi film has served as the opening gala at TIFF in as long as I can remember. A likely response to the rise in genre film popularity around the world, and the explosive attendance at genre film festivals like Fantasia and Toronto After Dark.

Here are seven films announced today that everyone will be talking about:

LOOPER (Directed by Rian Johnson, starring Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt)
When the mob wants to get rid of someone in 2072, the target is sent back in time 30 years, where a mafia hitman awaits. A hitman like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who one day learns the mob is done with him and wants to "close the loop" by transporting Joe's future self (Bruce Willis) into the past. From the creator of BRICK, one of my all-time
favourite genre films.

MUCH ADO (Directed by Joss Whedon, starring Nathan Fillion, Amy Acker and Clark Gregg)
From the creator of BUFFY and FIREFLY and director of the summer blockbuster THE AVENGERS, comes a modern retelling of the Shakespearean classic comedy. Be prepared to fight for a place in line with hordes of Whedonites who may not be familiar with the source material.

ARGO (Directed by Ben Affleck, starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston and John Goodman)
No surprise that it was included at TIFF, the latest project from Ben Affleck (THE TOWN) directs and stars as a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist during the Iranian revolution, who concocts an unlikely scheme to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of a Canadian ambassador.

END OF WATCH (Directed by David Ayer, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pe単a and Anna Kendrick)
From the famed writer of TRAINING DAY comes a new police drama in which two young cops (Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pe単a) are both "green lit" for death by the cartel, after confiscating "dope, money and guns" during what should have been a routine traffic stop.

THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES (Directed by Derek Cianfrance, starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Rose Byrne)
When motorcycle stunt rider (Ryan Gosling) considers committing a crime in order to provide for his wife and child, he finds himself on a collision course with a cop-turned-politician. From the director of one of the most heartbreaking films I've ever seen, BLUE VALENTINE.

CLOUD ATLAS (Directed by Tom Tykwer and Andy & Lana Wachowski, starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Hugh Grant)
Details are sparse on this sci-fi fantasy from Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN) and the Wachowski's (THE MATRIX). What we know for sure is there is an all star cast, and that it is based on the award winning post-apocalyptic novel by David Mitchell.

THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK (Directed by David O. Russell, starring Bradley Cooper, Julia Stiles and Robert De Niro)
From the director of 2010's THE FIGHTER, this comedy drama features a former teacher (Bradley Cooper) leaving a mental institution to live with his parent (Robert De Niro) with his ex-wife in tow. As if that isn't awkward enough, he then meets Tiffany, a gorgeous mysterious girl with problems of her own.

Writing by Johnny Larocque