Award-winning short Paradise, starring a cast of tin toys, is by Canada's Jesse Rosensweet. (Worldwide Short Film Festival) A French film about a young man with oversized ears and a Canadian film about a utopian world populated by 1950s-style tin toys are among the award-winning shorts to open the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto.

The Canadian Film Centre announced Wednesday a lineup of 268 shorts, including 72 Canadian premieres.

The traditional opening gala is a collection of award-winning shorts, including Paradise by Canada's Jesse Rosensweet, which stars a cast of tin toys, and Tony Zear, by Valentin Potier, about the lovelorn man with the big ears.

Other award winners to be included in the gala:

• Situation Frank, from Sweden, a comedy about a man testing the waters of friendship.
• Gravity, a Belgian film that collects the silver screen's hottest kisses.
• The Pierce Sisters, a film from U.K.'s Aardman animation that won a BAFTA from the British Academy of Film and Television earlier this year.

A scene from Genius Party by Japan animation house Studio4°, which will have its Canadian premiere at the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto. (Worldwide Short Film Festival)

This year's festival includes a Japanese Animation Spotlight, which will feature Canadian premieres of the Genius Party and Genius Party Beyond collections from animation powerhouse Studio4°.

There is also a spotlight on a series of Thai films created for Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 80th birthday, and another on work produced at Argentine film school Universidad del Cine.

From Canada comes a fresh crop of comedy shorts from the likes of comedian Dave Foley and Montreal Canadiens fan Mark Montefiore.

The Celebrity Shorts segment, with films made by or starring high-profile people, will have shorts starring Bob Geldof, Virginia Madsen, Dakota Fanning, Kelly Preston, Kurt Russell, Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. Behind the camera is Hollywood A-lister Kate Hudson in her directorial debut.

Scene Not Herd, featuring unusual music videos, includes shorts with music by Arcade Fire, The New Pornographers, Muse and Goldfrapp.

The Worldwide Short Film Festival runs June 10 to 15 in Toronto. The closing gala will feature shorts that win awards at the festival.