TORONTO - Documentaries about Canadian comic David Steinberg and outspoken atheist Richard Dawkins are among the high-profile projects heading to this year's Hot Docs festival.

Organizers of the annual documentary marathon say 28 features will be part of its special presentations program.

The program focuses on world and international premieres, recent award-winners from the festival circuit and works by master filmmakers.

It includes the world premieres of Barry Avrich's portrait "Prepare for the Worst: The David Steinberg Story," Gus Holwerda's "The Unbelievers," which follows scientists Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss, and AJ Schnack's look at Republican candidates of the Iowa caucus in "Caucus."

Star subjects include Romeo Dallaire in "Fight Like Soldiers Die Like Children;" Gael Garc�a Bernal in "Who Is Dayani Cristal?" and Mick Jagger, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Bono in "Muscle Shoals."

The full selection of films will be announced March 19. The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs April 25 to May 5.