娱乐英语新闻:63rd Cannes Film Festival kicks off

PARIS, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The 63rd International Film Festival of Cannes officially opened on Wednesday evening, with the Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" stars Russel Crowe and Cate Blanchett on the red carpet attracting thousands of Hollywood fans in the French Riviera.

This year a total of 19 films have been selected to compete for the "Palme d'Or" (Golden Palm), prize of the highest honor.

They are composed of six French productions, five Asian ones, and those from Britain, Mexico, Hungary, Ukraine and Russia.

Wang Xiao-shuai, a sixth generation Chinese director, is back since 2005, featuring his "Chongqing Blues" (Rizhao Chongqing ) on the next day after the opening. His last works of "Shanghai Dreams " won him Cannes's Prize of Jury award five years ago.

South Korean directors Lee Chang-dong and Im Sangsoo will feature "Poetry" and "The Housemaid" respectively. Other Asian selections include "Outrage" of Japanese renowned Takeshi Kitano, and Thai movie "Uncle Boonmee who can recall his past lives" of Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

1996 Palme d'Or winner Mike Leigh will join the competition with its British protduction "Another Year," casting Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville and Imelda Staunton.

The 9-member jury for Palme d'Or will be chaired by American director Tim Burton. Italian cinematographer Alberto Barbera, English actress Kate Beckinsale, French screenwriter and director Emmanuel Carrere and Indian director Shekhar Kapur are among those to decide the winner of the top prize.

Another 19 films have been selected for "Un Certain Regard" (A Certain Glance), with Chinese director Jia Zhang-ke featuring his documentary "I wish I knew" (Hai Shang Chuan Qi), and "R U there" shot in Taiwan by Dutch director David Verbeek.

The three films with the biggest names and out of competition are Woody Allen's "You will meet a tall dark stranger," Stephen Frears's "Tarama Drewe" and Oliver Stone's "Wall Street -- Money never sleeps."

The 12-day festival will come to an end on May 23rd, with the closing film of an Australian production "The Tree" by French female director Julie Bertuccelli.