Thousands of film industry experts, celebrities and press have descended on the French Riviera for the Cannes Film Festival.
Among them are actors Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, both starring in Robin Hood, which is set to open the 12-day event. The film once again unites Gladiator director Ridley Scott with 41-year-old Crowe.
The film, dubbed 'Gladiator in Sherwood Forest' by Crowe's hometown newspaper, is reported to have cost over $200 million to make.
"No preconceptions"
Tim Burton, the American film director, will head the Palme d'Or jury and has said he is "sensitive" about his role. The 51 year-old director of Alice in Wonderland will sit alongside eight other judges, including actors Benicio del Toro and Kate Beckinsale, who have until May 23rd to decide the winner of the prestigious prize. Among the 19 films which are in competition for the prize are Another Year by Mike Leigh, starring Jim Broadbent, and Ken Loach's film Route Irish.
Burton said that he will judge with no preconceptions: "I think we've all been judged, so I think we're coming into this with a certain spirit and openness and hopefully compassion for any filmmaker.
"We've all been involved in it [film-making] and we all know what that's all about. We all like to be surprised, so there are no preconceptions; we don't want to have a 'certain kind of thing' that we're looking for."
The festival opens following last week's freak storms in the Côte d’Azur area which left the Croisette badly damaged.
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