BLINDNESS OPENS CANNES FESTIVAL, ROBERT DE NIRO PRESENTS THE PALME D’OR

The following films are to complete the 2008 selection for the Festival de Cannes:

– Opening the Festival, and in Competition, on Wednesday May 14^th: Blindness by Fernando Mereilles, with Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Danny Glover, Gael García Bernal.

– A third French film in Competition: Entre les murs by Laurent Cantet, with François Begaudeau.

– Another film in Competition: Two Lovers by James Gray, with Joachim Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow

Furthermore, Hunger by Steve McQueen will open Un Certain Regard, on Thursday May 15^th.

The Jury, presided by Sean Penn, welcomes two new members, the French actress Jeanne Balibar and the Iranian author-director Marjane Satrapi.

Finally, Robert de Niro will present the Palme d’or, awarded by the Jury, on Sunday May 25^th.

At this occasion, and to close the Festival, will be screened What Just Happened by Barry Levinson with Robert de Niro, Bruce Willis, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro and Sean Penn.