Toronto, July 16 - Making a break with the past when a Canadian film inaugurated the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the organisers have announced they will open the mega-show with a British film this year.

Running Sep 10-19, the festival will be launched with the world premiere of 'Creation', a film about the life of Charles Darwin.

Announcing this here, festival co-director Cameron Bailey said they have decided to take 'a different route' this year by giving the opening slot to a foreign film.

The last time the Toronto film festival was opened with a foreign film was in 1996 when the American 'Fly Away Home' opened the film show.

'Creation' is directed by Jon Amiel and features real-life couple Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly as Darwin and his wife Emma. A mixture of ghost story, psychological thriller and love story, the film delves into Darwin's scientific beliefs and his wife's religion.

Bettany has starred in hits such as 'The Da Vinci Code', 'Wimbledon', and 'A Beautiful Mind', while Connelly has featured in 'He's Just Not That Into You', 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' and 'A Beautiful Mind'.

'We are honoured to open the festival with Jon Amiel's latest feature,' said Bailey.