Toronto- The 32nd Toronto International Film Festival announces today the powerful, socially and politically engaged lineup for this year's Mavericks programme, a series of sessions that will explore how the world at large intersects with the world of cinema.  Mavericks provides Festival audiences with in-depth access to leading world figures and major filmmakers as they share their personal stories and discuss their most recent and upcoming projects.  Four enlightening Mavericks presentations will feature appearances by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Bill Maher, Larry Charles, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Don Cheadle, Mira Nair, Santosh Sivan and more. 

Everything to Gain: A Conversation with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter will present a pair of inspirational activists as they share the lessons and gains of their post-Presidential career.  The focus of Jonathan Demmes documentary MAN FROM PLAINS (screening in this years Festival as a Special Presentation), former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife of over 60 years Rosalynn, will candidly describe the process of embarking on new ventures after their time in the White House during this Mavericks presentation.  This year, they celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Carter Center, the Atlanta-based institution co-founded by the couple with the mission of waging peace, fighting disease and building hope.  The Festival is honoured to mark this anniversary by hosting the Carters for a conversation about their work.  Everything to Gain: A Conversation with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carterwill be moderated by TVOs Allan Gregg.  

The deadly conflict in Sudan is the subject of the installation DARFUR/DARFUR, featured in this years inaugural Future Projections.  It is also the focus of DARFUR NOW (playing in Real to Reel), the stirring documentary that looks at six individuals striving in their own way to end the conflict in Darfur.  DARFUR NOW serves as the focal point for The Time is Now: A Conversation About Darfur, a Mavericks presentation that assembles four of the films subjects, along with key members of the filmmaking team, to discuss their actions and what the rest of us can do.  These participants bring a wealth of knowledge, as well as eyewitness testimony from the paths of refugee camps to the halls of political influence.  Their stories may be enraging, but their actions are unwaveringly inspiring.  The presentation will bring together actor, activist and author Don Cheadle; Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; Pablo Recalde, Head of the United Nations' World Food Programme in West Darfur; Adam Sterling, Executive Director of the Sudan Divestment Task Force; filmmaker Ted Braun; producer Mark Jonathan Harris and producer Cathy Schulman.

Two of America's most thought-provoking and politically charged comedians join forces in a special Mavericks presentation.  Quick-witted political rabble-rouser Bill Maher brings his unstoppable sense of humour to his stand-up routines, television shows ("Politically Incorrect", "Real Time with Bill Maher") and best-selling book (New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer).  Prolific writer, director and producer Larry Charles has brought his comedic mastery to both the big screen (BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN) and small screen ("Seinfeld", "Curb Your Enthusiasm").  These two high-profile humourists have teamed up for a feature-length documentary, RELIGULOUS - a satirical look at religion in which Maher travels to some of the worlds most popular religious destinations.  Maher and Charles will take to the stage for "Religulous": A Conversation with Bill Maher and Larry Charles, discussing faith, comedy and everything in between, and sharing a teaser clip of their work-in-progress with a very fortunate Mavericks audience.

Mira Nair Presents Four Views on AIDS in India brings together Mira Nair (THE NAMESAKE), Santosh Sivan (BEFORE THE RAINS), Vishal Bhardwaj (OMKARA) and Farhan Akhtar (DON) - four of India's most innovative and celebrated directors - for a discussion of the AIDS JAAGO Project, as well as the issue of HIV/AIDS in India and the world at large.  A development of Nairs own Mirabai Films and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project explores different aspects of HIV/AIDS in India, using some of Indian cinemas most celebrated actors to help maximize the exposure of the films to audiences throughout the country.  The four short films - featuring performances by Prabhu Deva, Irrfan Khan, Shabana, Azmi, Shiney Ahuja, Ayesha Takia, Boman Irani, Raima Sen, Siddharth, and Sameera Reddy - will screen as part of this insightful Mavericks presentation, also featuring a discussion between the four directors working to dismantle the myths and misconceptions associated with HIV/AIDS.