PARIS - with a good selection of films, Robert De Niro, Executive Board and a galaxy of stars expected on the Croisette, Cannes film festival this year is promising to be among the liveliest ever.
The 64th Edition of the world more large film festival opens Wednesday on the French Riviera with the first off Woody Allen last romantic comedy competition "midnight in Paris".
Twenty images, including the fresh work of Pedro Almodóvar Spain, the Danish Lars Von Trier and the Belgium Dardenne brothers, are for the highly coveted Palme d'Or.
"The selected films must really give the feeling that they deserve to be here", festival Director Thierry Frémaux told AFP in an interview, explaining how tough it can be to whittle down the selection.
"The festival reflects the State of cinema, and in General, the State of the film speaks to the State of the world."
Since its launch in the aftermath of the second world war, Cannes has been a lightning rod for controversy, but this year Frémaux says that the official selection is "" without a doubt one of the most ever'."
Oscar-winner De Niro, who plays in the past winners of gold Palm "Taxi Driver" and "The Mission", is Director of the Board which includes stars Hollywood Uma Thurman and Jude Law, Director of Johnny Hong Kong producer Shi Nansun of cinema and French Director Olivier Assayas.
A - Listers galore - among them Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, Penelope Cruz and Catherine Deneuve - will at the same time take is based on the lush red carpet leads in the Palais des Festivals.
"Midnight in Paris" gets special attention not least for his bit players: first lady Carla Bruni, his debut film as a member of the museum staff - hugging France Clipboard.
Seven hundred police have been detailed for the festival, where the killing of Osama bin Laden has matching security problems.
"An international event of this magnitude with so many personalities, many Americans, is in itself a real risk potential," a police spokesman said.
In a salute to change in the Middle East, the festival is honoring the Egypt as its first "guest country", while a snap of the uprising in Tunisia documentary will be the first film of this country in Cannes in 11 years.
Films by convicted Iranian directors Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, made in "grey conditions", in the meantime will be screened in the official languages and Un Certain Regard sections respectively, organizers, said Saturday.
French Director veteran Andre Techine will be rubbing shoulders with unknown and young filmmakers by avant-garde film directors fortnight program.
Asia, of the competition but produced exclusively for the festival "bollywood: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told" tribute to Indian popular cinema.
Also of competition and likely to stir controversy, will be "The conquest" by Director Xavier Durringer, a biography of Nicolas Sarkozy, who is the first film ever to Cannes on a French President.
Spanish heavyweight Almodovar will present "The Piel that Habito" (The Skin I live) in competition with Antonio Banderas featuring.
Von Trier, winner Palme d'Or in 2000 with "Dancer in the Dark", returns with "Melancholy", while the Dardennes will be gunning for their third Palme d'Or with "The kid in the velo" (The Kid with a bike).
Israeli filmmaker Joseph Cedar will unspool "Hearat Shulayim" (reference), and Director of the U.S. Terrence Malick will present "The Tree of Life", bringing together the Pitt and Penn on screen.
The Japan will be "ishimei" (Hara-Kiri: death of a Samurai) by Takashi Miike and "Hanezu Tsuki no" of Naomi Kawase.
The only British competitor was Lynne Ramsay with "We need to talk about Kevin," while the Australia, "Sleeping Beauty of Julia Leigh" is one of the two films for the first time in competition, the other being "michael" by Austrian director Markus Schleinzer.
Legend of cinema Italian Bernardo Bertolucci, whose classics include "Last Tango in Paris" and "The last emperor", must receive a Palme d'Or honorary for his life.
Cannes almost triple in population during the 11 days of festival 200 000, due not only to all screenings, but also to an international film market, where more than 10,000 participants from 101 countries will be haggle over the rights of 4,240 filmsmany of them still in production.
"On the steps, in parts, in theatres, Cannes is the place to be," said Frémaux.
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