The global movie business decamps in May for Cannes, turning the Cote d'Azur resort and its famous beachfront into the backdrop for the world's leading film festival. The Cannes Film Festival, now in its 61st year, does not appear to have lost any of its magic, each year celebrating movie-making and the cult of celebrity with considerable style and flair.

The 11-day film extravaganza will see A-list stars, a raft of movie premieres, high fashion and lavish parties.

The dpa International Service in English is offering a special package, to run shortly, with extensive advance coverage by correspondents reporting on the films that have been selected for this year's festival, those who have produced them, and the developments in movie-making around the world.

Organizers sifted through 1,792 full-length movies for the festival to select a wide range of films for the main festival sections, with entries stretching from Asia through to Turkey, Latin America, Central Europe and, of course, Hollywood.

Altogether 54 films from 31 countries will be shown across all sections this year. These include contributions from some of the leading US directors, such as Clint Eastwood, Steven Soderbergh, Woody Allen and Steven Spielberg.

In addition, 19 movies are in the race for Cannes' coveted Palme d'Or award, with the line-up including big Hollywood blockbusters as well as a contingent of smaller art-house films. Almost half the directors vying for the Palme d'Or are newcomers to the Cannes' main competition.

Cannes' seven-member jury, headed by US-actor-turned director Sean Penn, includes Italian director Sergio Castellitto, actress Natalie Portman and famed Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Hollywood is again expected to supply much of the glamour on the red carpet at Cannes, with organizers hoping that Angelina Jolie, Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Scarlett Johansson, Lucy Liu and Penelope Cruz will turn up for gala screenings. Legendary French star Catherine Deneuvre, whose latest film, A Christmas Take, is part of the main competition, might also make an appearance.

The package includes the following items:

Cannes - FEATURE: Cannes shows its magic with star-studded line-up. By Andrew McCathie (800 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/after 0500 GMT)

Paris - FEATURE: Cannes film festival gingerly rekindles spirit of May '68. By Siegfried Mortkowitz (600 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/after 0500 GMT)

Los Angeles - FEATURE: Despite reduced slate, Hollywood adds star power to Cannes. By Andy Goldberg (700 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/US/after 0500 GMT)

Cannes - FEATURE: Old hands, novice directors vie for Cannes diversity award. By Pauline Bugler (500 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/after 0500 GMT)

Rome - FEATURE: Italian cinema returns to Cannes. By Peter Mayer (700 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/Italy/after 0500 GMT)

Ankara - FEATURE: Up for Cannes award, but Turkish industry seeks stability. By Christopher Wade (700 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/Turkey/after 0500 GMT)

Moscow - FEATURE: All eyes on future profits as Russia celebrates 100 years of film. By Alissa de Carbonnel (642 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/Russia/after 0500 GMT)

Budapest - FEATURE: Hungary carries the torch for Central Europe in Cannes. By Michael Logan (650 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/Hungary/after 0500 GMT)

Cannes - FEATURE: China's new screen master: Jia Zhangke. By Andrew McCathie (630 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/China/after 0500 GMT)

Singapore - FEATURE: First Singapore filmmaker competes for Cannes' top prize. By Ruth Youngblood (650 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/Singapore/after 0500 GMT)

Manila - FEATURE: Philippine film mirrors society from inside movie house. By Girlie Linao (596 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/Philippines/after 0500 GMT)

- FEATURE: Cannes entry puts spotlight on Philippines indie films. By John Grafilo (640 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/Philippines/after 0500 GMT)

Buenos Aires - FEATURE: The official competition at Cannes! It's like... incredible! By Veronica Sardon (702 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/Argentina)

- FEATURE: Latin American veterans out to conquer Cannes. By Veronica Sardon (600 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/LatAmerica/after 0500 GMT)

Cannes - BACKGROUND: The 22 films competing for the Palme d'Or at Cannes. (142 words/France-Cinema/Cannes/after 0500 GMT) (dpa)