Midnight's Children to open 2012 Calgary film festival

Midnights Children, the film directed by Canadas Deepa Mehta that explores the legacy of Indias independence, will be the opening night film of the Calgary International Film Festival.

The 11-day festival launches Sept. 20 with a red carpet gala for the film at Calgarys Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.

Based on the Booker Prize winning novel by Salman Rushdie, Midnights Children follows the lives of two children who are born on the eve of Indias independence from Britain. Throughout their journey, it becomes apparent that their lives are connected and linked to Indias journey of highs and lows as it adjusts to being autonomous.

The film has its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier in September.

Mehta, an Indo-Canadian filmmaker, is known for her Oscar-nominated Water and films such as Bollywood/Hollywood.

"My goal with this film is for the audience to be taken on an epic journey to a place of love, laughter, political bite and hopeful triumph. And perhaps reach out for a wad of Kleenex at the end!" she said in a press release from the CIFF.

The CIFF will screen 150 films over 11 days.