Cannes Film Festival 2010 Lineup

The lineup for the 2010 Cannes Film Festival has been announced, featuring films from famed international directors Mike Leigh, Takeshi Kitano and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu as well as many other luminaries from around the world.

The festival will kick off on May 12th, with Ridley Scott‘s Robin Hood making its world premiere in the prestigious position of opening night film. It is one of several high profile films making its debut at Cannes, alongside Oliver Stone‘s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Woody Allen‘s You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger and Stephen Frears‘ Tamara Drewe.

Although none of those four movies will play in competition, the films in the running for the Palme d’Or are equally interesting. They include:

Another Year – U.K. d: Mike Leigh
Biutiful – Spain-Mexico d:Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Burnt by the Sun 2 – Germany-France-Russia d: Nikita Mikhalkov
Certified Copy – France-Italy-Iran d: Abbas Kiarostami
Fair Game – U.S. d: Doug Liman
Hors-la-loi – France-Belgium-Algeria d: Rachid Bouchareb
The Housemaid – South Korea d: Im Sang-soo
La nostra vita – Italy-France d: Daniele Luchetti
La Princesse de Montpensier – France d: Bertrand Tavernier
Of Gods and Men – France d: Xavier Beauvois
Outrage – Japan d: Takeshi Kitano
Poetry – South Korea d: Lee Chang-dong
A Screaming Man – France-Belgium-Chad d: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Tournee – France d: Mathieu Amalric
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives – Spain-Thailand-Germany-U.K.-France d: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
You, My Joy – Ukraine-Germany d: Sergey Loznitsa

Terrence Malick‘s long-gestating opus The Tree of Life, starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, was expected to also make its debut at Cannes. Although it has not yet been announced, it is hoped that it can be included as a late entry to the festival.

This year’s feature film jury will be led by President Tim Burton (imagine that, President Tim Burton) and include Kate Beckinsale, Benicio Del Toro, Italian actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Spanish director Victor Erice, Indian director Skekhar Kapur, French screenwriter Emmanuel Carrere and Director of the National Museum of Cinema in Italy Alberto Barbera. Juliette Binoche will act as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Check out the rest of the films playing at Cannes this year.

Michael Haneke‘s The White Ribbon claimed the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. A Prophet was awarded the Grand Prix (second place) while Fish Tank and Thirst shared the Grand Jury accolade (third place). Aussie director Warwick Thornton picked up the Camera d’Or (best first feature) for Samson and Delilah. The acting prizes went to Charlotte Gainsbourg (Antichrist – which started a memorable stir at its Cannes debut) and Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds – the same role that claimed him an Oscar).

Discuss: Your thoughts on this year’s lineup?