Anna Karenina and Byzantium to premiere at TIFF 2012

Joe Wright's Anna Karenina (starring former Pride & Prejudice stars Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen) and Byzantium (Tom Hollander co-stars with Gemma Arterton, Saoirse Ronan, and Johnny Lee Miller) films are two of the official selections for this year's Toronto International Film Festival. They are under the Special Presentations category.

The 2012 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 – 16th. The festival marks the beginning of awards season. See the complete line-up here.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Anna Karenina Joe Wright, United Kingdom International Premiere

The third collaboration of Academy Award nominee Keira Knightley with acclaimed director Joe Wright, following the award-winning box office successes Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, is a bold, theatrical new vision of the epic love story, adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s timeless novel by Academy Award winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love). The story powerfully explores the capacity for love that surges through the human heart. As Anna (Knightley) questions her happiness and marriage, change comes to surround her. Also starring Matthew Macfadyen, Jude Law, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Schedule announced on August 21. In UK Cinemas Sept. 7th and US Theaters November 9th November 16th!

Byzantium Neil Jordan, United Kingdom World Premiere

Two mysterious women seek refuge in a run-down coastal resort. Clara meets lonely Noel, who provides shelter in his deserted guesthouse, Byzantium. Schoolgirl Eleanor befriends Frank and tells him their lethal secret. They were born 200 years ago and survive on human blood. As knowledge of their secret spreads, their past catches up on them with deathly consequence. Starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Riley, Saoirse Ronan, Jonny Lee Miller, and Tom Hollander. See new Byzantium images here (via Collider). No theatrical release date as of yet.