Festival News Friday, 19 May 2006

Premiers

Volver staring Penelope Cruz as well as Fast Food Nation directed by Richard Linklater premier tonight in the Palais du Festival.

The Da Vinci Code Opens Worldwide

Since its premier on Wednesday, The Da Vinci Code has not received great reviews from critics. Today is its global debut. Despite its bad critical reviews, there is no doubt that the box office sales will hit a record high. It has been reported that The Da Vinci Code is responsible for selling over 81% in its advanced ticket sales. It is estimated to bring in over $50 million in its firsr weekend.

Poitier Awarded

Sidney Poitier who is the first black actor to win an Oscar in 1963 for Lilies of the Field, was made Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Orders highest honor by France`s Cultural Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres. This is the most prestigious French artistic distinction after the ranks of Knight and Officer.

Stars expected in Cannes

Claudine Auger, Edouard Baer, Richard Berry, Dominique Blanc, Jean-Claude Brialy, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Marie-Josée Croze, Penélope Cruz, Alfonso Cuaron, Tony Curran, Paul Dawson/Pjdeboy, Kate Dickie, Christopher Doyle, Mélanie Doutey, Mehmet Eryilmaz, Sarah Forestier, Hippolyte Girardot, Catherine Frot, Xiadong Guo, Lei Hao, Ethan Hawke, Nazan Kesal, Greg Kinnear, Carole Laure, Sook-Yin Lee, Vincent Lindon, Michael Madsen, Benoît Magimel, Tonie Marshall, Andy McDowell, Yolande Moreau, Eugény Mironov, Cilian Murphy, Camille Natta, Claire Nebout, Pamela Racine, Aishawrya Ray, Jean-Paul Rouve, Gena Rowlands, Barbet Schroeder, Catalina Sandino-Moreno, Daniela Thomas, Christopher Thompson, Régis Warnier, Kerry Washington and Elijah Wood.