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(Image courtesy of the Breast Fest Film Festival website)

View larger image Filmmaker Lori Benson created 'Dear Talula' in the form of a love letter to her daughter.

It's been a year and a half in the works and now the pink carpet is being rolled out for the premiere of the world's first breast cancer film festival in Toronto.

Eight films are being screened over two days starting Friday at the Royal Ontario Museum as part of the Breast Fest Film Festival, showcasing the many issues surrounding the disease.

Alison Gordon, the vice-president of the charity organizing the event -- Rethink Breast Cancer - says the idea for the festival came about after discovering that people were using YouTube to share their personal stories.

"We wanted to do a festival to incorporate the YouTube phenomenon and that's why we created the short film competition," she says.

"People could make their own short films and present them to the public this way."

Viewers voted online for the winner of the Amazing Grace Award from a selection of eight short films, which were chosen from a wide variety of films with different perspectives on the disease.

Local contenders for the top prize include "My Mommy has Breast Cancer," in which seven-year-old Maxwell shares his outlook on his mother's battle with stage four cancer.

The winner will be announced and screened tomorrow night.

Tonight's sold out festival premiere will also be the Canadian premiere of the Renee Zellweger-produced movie "Living Proof," which stars Harry Connick Jr., Amanda Bines and Angie Harmon.

The movie is based on a true story about UCLA doctor Dennis Slamon, who helped develop the breast cancer drug Herceptin. The drug has helped save millions of lives.

Gordon says they're hoping to attract a wide range of people in the audience, including people who love film and those who are connected to breast cancer in some way.

"We really do think that film is one of those accessible all-encompassing mediums that can reach all ages," she says.

"We think this is a great way to educate and raise awareness around the issues of breast cancer."

To view show times, purchase tickets or for more information, visit the Breast Fest Film Festival website.