Sook-Yin Lee's feature to open Canadian program at TIFF

Canadian media personality Sook-Yin Lee's feature-length directorial debut will open the Toronto International Film Festival's Canada First! program.

Lee, who hails from Vancouver,  wrote and directed Year of the Carnivore, a rom-com drama about a 21-year-old tomboy, Sammy (Cristin Milioti, The Sopranos), who falls for a street musician, Eugene (Mark Rendall, Childstar). After a dismal sexual encounter, Sammy follows Eugene's advice to become more experienced.

The film, which was shot in the Lower Mainland and is a B.C.-Ontario coproduction, also stars Will Sasso (MADtv), Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall), and Sheila McCarthy (Little Mosque on the Prairie).

Local band Modern Creatures contributed to the soundtrack, and served as part of a fictitious band on-screen.

Lee, a current CBC Radio One host, rose to fame as lead singer of the Vancouver band Bob's Your Uncle and as a MuchMusic VJ. She also starred in the films The Art of Woo, 3 Needles, and Shortbus.

The Canada First! program focuses on emerging and established Canadian filmmakers who are showing at the TIFF for the first time.

The TIFF runs from September 10 to 19.