No Irish films will be in contention for the Cannes Film Festival’s top prize the Palme d’Or this year.
British actress Kristin Scott Thomas will open the 63rd edition of the Festival on May 12th.
Ridley Scott's new movie Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe in the title role, will be opening the festival, which runs unil May 23rd.
British actress Kate Beckinsale, actor Benicio Del Toro and Indian director and actor Shekhar Kapur will join the previously announced jury president Tim Burton on the competition panel.
British director Mike Leigh's new film, Another Year, is in the running for the top prize.
The ensemble comedy drama, starring Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville is the sole British film in competition at this year's festival. The film tells the story of a happily married middle aged couple who endure other people's problems.
Leigh (67), known for his use of improvisation, previously won the Palme d'Or in 1996 for Secrets And Lies and was last nominated in 2002 for All Or Nothing.
US titles in competition include Fair Game, a spy thriller starring Watts and Sean Penn as an exposed CIA agent and her diplomat husband, directed by Doug Liman.
Stephen Frears, director of hit movie The Queen, will show his new film Tamara Drewe, starring Gemma Arterton in the title role, out of competition. The film, also featuring Dominic Cooper and Tamsin Greig, is an adaptation of the Posy Simmonds graphic novel.
Woody Allen's new offering You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, which is set in London and stars Naomi Watts, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto and Anna Friel, and Oliver Stone's Wall Street - Money Never Sleeps, which will close the festival, will also be shown out of competition.