PARIS - The 2005 Cannes film festival will mark a return to the big names with top, cult directors who have dominated global cinema since the 1980s competing against younger Asian filmmakers, organisers said Tuesday.
Movie legends such as Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, Lars von Trier, Gus van Sant and David Cronenberg will be among the 20 directors with films competing for the coveted Palme d`Or in the French Riviera resort.
The choices this year mark an attempt to move away from the eclectic selection seen in 2004, when the giant green ogre Shrek competed against the eventual winner Michael Moore`s polemic documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11".
Artistic director Thierry Fremeaux told a press conference organisers had had to whittle their choice down for the May 11 to 22 festival from more than 1,500 films, a record number put forward by 97 countries.
"Last year we wanted to present the importance of documentary cinema and animation. This year, there is a return to a certain classicism, the great authors, many of whom have already been in the competition," he said.
But this year`s return to the big names on world cinema had happened by a natural process. "If they have been chosen, it is because their films seduced us because of their own qualities, and because of what they have to say about the creative process today."
Wenders, returning to Cannes for the first time since 1997, will show his "Don`t Come Knockin`", a journey of self-discovery for an aging star of cowboy films starring Sam Shepard and Jessica Lange.
Von Trier, also like Wenders and Van Sant a past Cannes winner, will show "Manderlay" which picks up where "Dogville" left off, while Jarmusch will present his "Broken Flowers" in which Bill Murray sets off search for his unknown son by visiting his old flames.
Canadian director Cronenberg will show "A History of Violence" starring, Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris and William Hurt while Van Sant will be present with his film "Last Days", a rock`n`roll drama set in Seattle about a musician whose life is reminiscent of that of late grunge rocker Kurt Cobain.
Hollywood star Tommy Lee Jones will also be hoping for a Palme d`Or with his first film as the director of "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada."
Asia will be represented by young Chinese director Wang Xiaoshuai competing for the first time at Cannes with "Shanghai Dreams", as well as Japan`s Masahiro Kobayashi with "Bashing", and Taiwan`s Hou Hsiao-Hsien with "The Best of Our times".
Hong Kong`s Johnny To will also be in competition for the first time with "Election", a Cantonese drama-thriller starring Nick Cheung, Tony Leung and Andy On.
Fremaux said Asia was "a very active continent" in all types of cinema and its growing box-office success was proof that audiences wanted to see more.
China was also to send a large delegation to the glamourous French resort to mark 100 years of Chinese cinema, added director general Veronique Cayla.
Out of competition "Star Wars" fans will also get the first glimpse at the final episode of the George Lucas triology "Episode III - Revenge of the Sith", while Woody Allen, a frequent Cannes visitor, will show his new movie "Match Point."
In total, some 53 films from 28 countries will be shown, including some 50 world premieres, and the make-up of the jury, which will this year be headed by Bosnian director Emir Kusturica, will be unveiled in Paris next week.
Fremaux also stressed the organisers had wanted to encourage emerging film-makers in eastern Europe, who are well represented in the "Un Certain Regard" section -- films which are not in the running for the Palme d`Or.
Three French films will be in competition for the Palme d`Or -- "Lemming" by Dominik Moll, "Peindre ou faire l`amour" (Paint or make love) by Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu and "Cache" (Hidden) by Michael Haneke.

04/19/2005 12:53 GMT