Dharma master Liao Yi Shin (L) seen through the viewfinder of a TV camera, translates for Venerable Dharma Master Hsin Tao (R) during an interview in Hong Kong. Hsin urged religious groups to protect holy artefacts and rebuild the two giant Buddha statues destroyed by Taliban in Bamyan, Afghanistan. PHOTO- REUTERS

CANNES, France - Last year, the threat of a Hollywood actors‘ strike cast a giant shadow over Cannes. Now the stars are burning bright again at the world‘s most famous film festival. For Wednesday night‘s gala opening, even the publicity-shy Woody Allen ran the gauntlet, facing a barrage of paparazzi as he walked up the famed red carpet for the launch of his bittersweet comedy „Hollywood Ending“. As the first night showed, the buzz is back in Cannes. The glitz and glamour have gone into overdrive.

Last year, Jodie Foster pulled out as president of the festival jury at the last moment. Stars stayed away in droves as Hollywood studios, fearing an actors‘ strike that in the end never materialised, rushed several films into production. This year‘s jury is headed by offbeat director David Lynch. The winner of the coveted Palme d‘Or in 1990 with „Wild at Heart“ is now on the other side of the fence and he was the first to admit: „To judge our fellow filmmakers is really a most terrible job.“ Even James Bond is taking a break from filming to fly into Cannes. Pierce Brosnan will be here for a spectacular weekend party for movie moguls. Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz are coming to Cannes for an eagerly awaited showing of footage from Martin Scorsese‘s „Gangs of New York“. And the Hollywood highrollers don‘t stop there — Jack Nicholson is making up for his 2001 „No Show“ and George Lucas is in town on Thursday, the day that his latest „Star Wars“ epic hits screens worldwide.

Reuters