Director Michael McGowan, actress Allie MacDonald, and Hawksley Workman in attendance.

Rating: PG

A cheeky tribute to a national obsession, Score: A Hockey Musical has been announced as the film slated to kick off the 2010 Calgary International Film Festival.

Touted far and wide as the next Sidney Crosby, the only thing standing between 17-year-old Farley (newcomer Noah Reid) and hockey greatness in this Festival-opening flick are his granola-fed, anti-sport intellectual parents (singer-songwriter Marc Jordan and superstar Olivia Newton-John). Well, that and a heavy dose of fist-fighting, self-promotion and overblown hype.

Crammed with cameos from Canadian icons of both music and hockey fame, including Nelly Furtado, Dave Bidini, Hawksley Workman, John McDermott, George Stroumboulopoulos, Evan Solomon, Steve Kouleas, Walter Gretzky and Theo Fleury, Score is an over-the-top ode to the country's favourite pastime.

With 20 original songs from the likes of the Barenaked Ladies, Hawksley Workman, Olivia Newton-John and more, it's an all-singing, all-dancing slapshot of a film. "This is our game, these are our songs and this is our movie,” said Jacqueline Dupuis, executive director, Calgary International Film Festival.

Now, ask anyone who's ever been to a CIFF Opening Gala, and they will tell you it's an absolute must-attend event on their annual calendar. Without a doubt, this year will be no different.

Screening Sept. 23 at the Globe Cinema on Stephen Avenue, followed by a Gala Party to remember at Flames Central down the street, it's THE ticket to have this September.

WHAT: CIFF 2010 Opening Gala & Score: A Hockey Musical Screening
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010
WHERE: Red Carpet event - 6 p.m., Stephen Ave. & 6 St. S.W.
Film Screening – 7 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Globe Cinema - 617 8 Ave. S.W.
Opening Gala Party – 9 p.m., Flames Central - 219 8 Ave. S.W.

The all-inclusive Opening Gala ticket offers exclusive access to the red carpet, a debut screening of Score: A Hockey Musical at Calgary's Globe Cinema; the chance to rub shoulders with film industry insiders, like Score director Mike McGowan and lead actor Allie MacDonald, media and the who’s who of Calgary; cocktails and nibblies; and an exclusive performance by Hawksley Workman in the city’s most acclaimed venue for live music – Flames Central on Stephen Avenue.

Opening Gala is generously sponsored by ET Canada, Fashion Magazine, Concorde Entertainment Group, Moet & Chandon and Stella Artois.