She landed the part by lying about her age: Quvenzhane Wallis was five, and the filmmakers were only auditioning girls at least six years old.

The 38th Deauville film festival began on Friday with Harvey Keitel as guest of honour at the seaside resort's annual celebration of American film.

The 38th Deauville film festival kicks off on Friday with Harvey Keitel as guest of honour as the seaside resort brings out the stars and stripes for its annual celebration of American film.

A cluster of tiny Louisiana towns being slowly swallowed by the encroaching sea has been given new life in a fantastical film that has won top honors at Cannes and Sundance.

Mexican Carlos Reygadas, whose puzzling "Post Tenebras Lux" bagged him best director prize at Cannes on Sunday, is a darling of the festival that has showcased all four of his often impenetrable films.

Aboriginal feel-good comedy "The Sapphires" got a glittering reception in Cannes, drawing strong reviews and a standing ovation for its world premiere at the Riviera film festival.

Brandon Cronenberg fought the film bug for a long time before deciding to walk in his father's footsteps, the Canadian told AFP as he made a keenly-awaited big screen debut in Cannes.

Brazilian cinema, a special guest at this year's prestigious Cannes festival, is experiencing an impressive boom with around 100 films produced every year and a higher international profile.

Brazilian cinema, a special guest at this year's prestigious Cannes festival, is experiencing an impressive boom with around 100 films produced every year and a higher international profile.

Australians are enjoying a high profile at Cannes this year, but beyond the star power of Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue, the film world will be watching the ground-breaking work of Aboriginal artists.

Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami in March had a powerful impact on Naomi Kawase's haunting new film in competition at Cannes, the Japanese director said on Wednesday.

Filipino director Auraeus Solito draws upon his indigenous Palawan heritage for his latest film -- and it's all thanks to the bedtime stories that his mother told him.

The makeup of this year's Cannes jury, headed by US actor Robert De Niro, means the coveted Palme d'Or's winner will have global approval, with actors and directors from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.

There's a distinct Hong Kong flavour to the nine-member jury that will decide the Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival that opens May 11.

Veteran French director Andre Techine will rub shoulders with young and unknown filmmakers at the Directors' Fortnight during the Cannes film festival that opens May 11, organisers said on Tuesday.

European directors are many, Asians are few and South Americans non-existent on the list of 19 films in the running for the coveted Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes film festival, announced on Thursday.

Italian cinema legend Bernardo Bertolucci, whose classics include "Last Tango in Paris" and "The Last Emperor," is to receive an honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes, festival organisers said Monday.

South Korean director Boon Joon-Ho will chair the jury that picks the winner of the Camera d'Or prize for best first film at this year's Cannes film festival, organisers said on Thursday.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - An Iranian court has sentenced acclaimed film director Jafar Panahi to six years in prison and banned him from making movies or traveling abroad for 20 years, his lawyer was quoted as saying on Monday.

'Norwegian Wood' director says it took 4 years to win Haruki Murakami's approval to make movie. The director of a soon-to-be-released movie based on Haruki Murakami's book "Norwegian Wood" said it took him four years to win the approval of the Japanese author to adapt the popular novel.