Who will shine at the Cannes Film festival

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A.� Japanese director Shohei Imamura is tipped to be� winner of the�Palme d'Or.� Also present will be David Lynch, the Coen Brothers and Emmano Omi. Imamura's entry this year Lukewarm Water Under A Warm Bridge will probably be eclipsed by Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge though.

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Q.� What's Moulin Rouge about

A.� It's a musical from Luhrmann, who directed Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and stars Nicole Kidman and Ewan MacGregor. Set in 1899� it follows a young poet� (Ewan Macgregor) who leaves his home and family for the Montmatre district of Paris and encounters a courtesan named Satin, (Kidman). Even Kylie Minogue has a part -� playing a green fairy. Although set in the 19th century, the song and dance numbers are drawn from the 20th century, including tracks by the Beatles and Madonna. Moulin Rouge opens the festival.

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Q.� What other big films are there

A.� Critics are hotly awaiting the Coen brothers' The Man Who Wasn't There, starring Billy Bob Thornton and Frances McDormand, and Mulholland Drive from David Lynch. Actor Sean Penn's latest directing efforts The Pledge with Jack Nicholson also gets an airing.

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Q.� Are there any British entries

A.� Films from the UK will be conspicuously absent this year, even though in the past Stephen Fry, Mike Leigh and Billy Elliott have been enormous hits. The most visible UK presence will include on the judges, actors Liv Ullmann, Charlotte Gainsbourg, director Terry Gilliam, actress Julia Ormond and Taiwanese director Edward Yang.

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Q.� When does the festival start

A.� The 54th Cannes FIlm Festival starts on Wednesday until May 20.

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Q.� What about Jodie Foster's film

A.� The panel overlooked The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys with Jodie Foster playing a one-legged nun. The rumour in Cannes is that the French rejected the work in retaliation for Foster's abrupt decision to abandon the presidency of the festival. At the time she said she could not accept the job because she had just been offered the starring role in David Fincher's The Panic Room, reported to be worth $8m. The French media reported her decision as victory for the fat cats of Hollywood.

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Q.� Who is competing for the festival's Un Certain Regard

A.� This section includes The Anniversary Party made by and starring Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming. The Director's Fortnight includes two American actors-turned-directprs with films staring their wives: Arliss Howard's Big Bad Love with Debra Winger; and Ethan Hawke's Chelsea Walls, starring Uma Thurman.

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Q� Which Asian�directors�will be there

A.� As usual, Asian cinema is well represented�at Cannes. Hou Hsiao Hsien's Millennium Mambo and Tsai Ming Ling's Taiwanese What Time Is It Over There are some of the films. The French will be hosting a number of films including Francois Dupeyron's La Chambre des Offiiciers, Cedric Kahn's Roberto Succo and Jean-Luc Godard's Eloge de l'Amour will also be on show.

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By Katharine�MacColl�