The sixtieth Cannes film festival has rolled out its red carpet and there were more stars on the Cote d’Azur than in the sky for opening night. Stephen Frears is the jury chairman who along with the eight other judges will have the tough task of choosing the pick of this year’s crop for the prizes. And the first of the twenty-two films in competition for the Palme d’Or opened the festival – the much awaited “My Blueberry nights” by Wong Kar-wai, starring Jude Law, Nathalie Portman, Ed Harris and, for the first time on screen, singer Norah Jones.

The festival also reserved a place of honour for the world’s oldest filmmaker, the last living director who began during the silent age, Portugal’s Manuel d’Oliveira. The ninety-eight year-old opened the festival and welcomed guests.

Among the directors up for the top prize are past winners the Cohen brothers, Quentin Tarantino, Gus Van Sant and Emir Kusturica, but one of the most eagerly awaited films will not be in competition – “Oceans thirteen”, will attract huge crowds thanks to a star-studded cast.

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