61st Cannes Film Festival films announced

61st Cannes Film festival (May 14- May 25) has unveiled a list of 19 films, competing for the top honour Palme d'Or , under a jury headed by Sean Penn, the Oscar-winning Hollywood actor. No Indian film features in this category, though there are films from China and Singapore. Top directors Clint Eastwood, Steven Soderbergh and Wim Wenders will compete against some very new faces from across the world, announced Cannes organisers Wednesday, April 23, 2008, according to India EU Film Initiative.

In the competitive section renowned directors such as Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne with "Le Silence de Lorna," Arnaud Desplechin with "Un Conte de Noel," Clint Eastwood with "The Changeling," (pictured above, Angelina Jolie) Walter Salles with "Linha de Passe," Wim Wenders with "The Palermo Shooting" and Steven Soderbergh with "Che" will compete against each other.

On the other hand filmmaker Charlie Kaufman will screen "Synechdoche, New York" for the top honour for the very first time.

Philippe Garrel with "Les Frontieres de L'Aube" starring his son Louis will be featured in the Competition section.

The other directors battling for the Palme d'Or are Canada's Armenian-born Atom Egoyan, Brazil's Walter Salles, China's Jia Zhangke, Israeli Ari Folman, Pablo Trapero of Argentina and Nuri Bilge Ceylan of Turkey.

See the complete list and report