Kiwi dance flick makes Toronto Film Festival debut

(L-R) Actors Tia Maipi, Parris Goebel, Stan Walker and director Tammy Davis from Born To Dance pose for a portrait during the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's first hip-hop dance movie had its international premiere last night with a red-carpet reception in Canada.

Kiwi stars of Born to Dance, including chart-topping singer Stan Walker and choreographer Parris Goebel, were among those at the glittering event at the world-famous Toronto Film Festival.

After the sold-out screening, director Tammy Davis led the cast in a question-and-answer session with international media.

Born to Dance - which features a host of South Auckland dancers and opens in New Zealand on September 24 - is proving a big hit in Toronto.

In its bumper film festival edition, Variety magazine named Walker its "International Star To Watch".

Walker wowed Canadians on Thursday when he performed the film's hit song Start Again on top TV breakfast show Canada AM to an audience of more than a million.

Ahead of the premiere, Walker last night performed to a packed house at the exclusive Nikki Beach club.

The film's lead - champion hip-hop dancer Tia Maipi - is also a hot favourite in Toronto.

The Rakaumanga school student has been interviewed by leading American showbiz news outlets, including Deadline, Indiewire and the Hollywood Reporter.