The 35th annual Toronto International Film Festival kicks off Thursday with the opening night film Score: A Hockey Musical.

The selection of the unabashedly Canadian romantic comedy to introduce this year's edition of the internationally renowned festival has sparked debate, as some film fans were "frankly embarrassed that Canada's biggest and most prestigious film fete would kick off with a parochial ode to the national sport, featuring has-been pop singer Olivia Newton John as a hockey mom," CBC's Martin Morrow wrote.

TIFF co-director Cameron Bailey defended the movie musical.

"This is a film every Canadian can embrace," he said, describing the movie as "like Glee, but on a hockey rink."

"We are not just about highbrow. We're a festival for everybody. There is always a film you can relate to in our lineup. This is a film that we think has a great, celebratory mood that fits with the spirit of this year's event and has a great Canadian filmmaker [Michael McGowan]."

In the video below, McGowan discusses the movie and its critical reception with CBC's Mark Kelley.

What do you think of Score being the opening night film? Do you want to see it? Let us know.