New A Good Year stills! I've added the four new film images to the photo gallery :)

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From Reuters: Michael Apted's slave-trade drama "Amazing Grace" has lined up a U.S. distribution deal on the eve of the Toronto International Film Festival, where it will make its world premiere in the closing-night slot.

Independent distributors Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions said they would release the film on February 23, the 200th anniversary of the British parliament's vote to abolish the slave trade.

The film, which is still being completed, stars Ioan Gruffudd as William Wilberforce, who led the British Empire to end slavery at the turn of the 19th century with the help of slave trader-turned-abolitionist Rev. John Newton (Albert Finney) and his wife (Romola Garai).

The cast also includes Rufus Sewell, Benedict Cumberbatch, Youssou N'Dour, Ciaran Hinds and Michael Gambon.

The companies are planning to target the traditional art house crowd, human rights groups and faith-based audiences.

"Wilberforce is a hero to many Christians because he combined political actions and his belief in God," said Howard Cohen, Roadside co-president.

The film was produced by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz's Bristol Bay Prods., which aims to make uplifting family-friendly fare. It scored a hit with "Ray."

Samuel Goldwyn and Roadside have partnered on such films as the documentary "Super Size Me" and the upcoming "Lassie," which opens September 1. The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 through September 16.

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The line-up of the Toronoto International Film Festival, which runs from September 7th - 16th 2006, has been announced, with A Good Year and Amazing Grace having their world premieres at the festival! Both films are included in the festival's eight 'Gala Presentations' (with Amazing Grace closing the festival) and Gala tickets go on sale from Saturday, August 26 at 10 a.m (visit the TIFF website for more info).

The line-up of stars attending the festival has also been announced; unfortunately it seems that Albert won't be attending, however others involved with A Good Year and Amazing Grace will be. :) Here's the press releases about the two films:

The World Premiere Of Michael Apted’s Amazing Grace Closes Festival
The 31st Toronto International Film Festival closes with the world premiere Gala Presentation of Michael Apted's AMAZING GRACE. Tremendously appealing to both heart and mind, AMAZING GRACE tells the story of William Wilberforce, a British Parliamentarian who led abolitionists in their crusade to end the slave trade in late 18th century England. The film stars Ioan Gruffudd, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rufus Sewell, Youssou N'Dour, Ciaran Hinds, Romola Garai, Michael Gambon, and Albert Finney. Closing Night Film & Party tickets are now available. For more information or to purchase tickets call 416-968-FILM or visit bell.ca/filmfest.

Ioan Gruffudd (BLACK HAWK DOWN) takes the powerful lead as Wilberforce, a firebrand politician known for his charm, wit and zeal. Undaunted by the boys' club atmosphere amongst his colleagues, he is recognized early in his career as a man of great integrity and courage. A life-altering meeting with ex-slave Olaudauh Equiano (the feature debut of international music star Youssou N'Dour) inspires Wilberforce to confront the dehumanizing slave trade, an economic force so vital to the Establishment that it forces him into a fierce conflict with the most powerful people in the nation.

His friend - and future British Prime Minister - William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch, also seen in the Festival film STARTER FOR TEN) is an ideal foil. Pitt hews to the straight and narrow, while Wilberforce storms through the doors, hollering for reform. The pair harbour great hope for their country, but change is slow to arrive. Not to be defeated, Wilberforce, aided by a diverse coalition of allies, including former slave trader John Newton (Albert Finney, ERIN BROCKOVICH), passionate abolitionist Thomas Clarkson (Rufus Sewell, THE ILLUSIONIST), and his spirited wife and political compatriot Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai, VANITY FAIR), Wilberforce begins a movement that would ultimately change history.

Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Apted has crafted a brilliant account of his perseverance, showing how an exhausted Wilberforce musters the strength for the final, all-important effort against injustice. The film is lush with period detail and blessed with tremendous performances - including the matchless Finney as Newton, a former slave trader-turned-penitent man of the cloth, whose desperate guilt steels Wilberforce's resolve in moments of doubt.

A powerful, stirring film, AMAZING GRACE is directed by Michael Apted and written by Steven Knight. The film is executive produced by Jeanney Kim and produced by Terrence Malick, Edward Pressman, Patricia Heaton, David Hunt, and Ken Wales. AMAZING GRACE is a presentation of Bristol Bay Productions.

The Closing Night Film is made possible through the generous sponsorship of National Bank Financial. (Toronto International Film Festival)

World Premiere Of Ridley Scott’s A Good Year A Gala Presentation
A GOOD YEAR, the latest film from acclaimed director Ridley Scott, receives its world premiere as a Gala Presentation at the 31st Toronto International Film Festival. In this adaptation of Peter Mayle's best-selling novel, A GOOD YEAR reunites Ridley Scott with Academy Award©-winner Russell Crowe (GLADIATOR), who stars as a hard-driving financier suddenly in sole possession of his late uncle's vineyard in Provence. The film also stars Albert Finney, Abbie Cornish, Marion Cotillard, Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi, Didier Bourdon, Tom Hollander, and Freddie Highmore. Gala tickets on sale August 26. For more information or to purchase tickets call 416-968-FILM or visit bell.ca/filmfest.

London-based investment expert Max Skinner (Russell Crowe) is fiercely successful and not at all afraid to make bold - if somewhat unethical - moves on the stock market. Having been reprimanded for his latest wrong-doing, Max makes a quick trip to Provence to sell a small vineyard he has inherited from his late uncle Henry. When he arrives at the estate, he discovers that the vineyard is in a state of disrepair - and worse, its wine is awful.

Steadfast, Max readies the crumbling estate for sale. But memories of happy summers spent with his uncle on the vineyard prove distracting. As Max reluctantly settles into what ultimately becomes an intoxicating new chapter in his life, he encounters additional obstacles to the sale of the estate. The surly estate winemaker stubbornly clings to his post, a feisty local beauty falls into the picture and leaves Max smitten, and a young woman named Christie arrives suddenly in Provence, claiming to be Max's cousin.

With A GOOD YEAR, Ridley Scott brings all of the novel's wonderful charm to screen. Warm, tender, and romantic, A GOOD YEAR is a light-hearted celebration of life's riches.

Directed and produced by Ridley Scott, A GOOD YEAR is distributed worldwide by 20th Century Fox. (Toronto International Film Festival)

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Yahoo! Movies has added the 'A Good Year' poster and trailer! The poster is here and the trailer is here. I've made screen caps of the Albert scenes in the trailer and added them to the photo gallery. From the credits at the end of the trailer, it seems that the official A Good Year website will be at www.agoodyearmovie.com, although the site isn't online yet. :)

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Finally, a new film photo! I've scanned a still of Albert in 'A Good Year' (released November 10th 2006) and added it to the photo gallery. Thumbnail is below, go here to see a bigger version :)

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