The Cannes Film Festival is back in the hands of comfy old friends with a line-up that includes such familiar filmmakers as Woody Allen, David Cronenberg, Gus Van Sant, Wim Wenders, Lars von Trier and Atom Egoyan.

A total of 20 movies from China to Iraq and Canada are to compete for top honour at the Cannes Film Festival in May, organisers announced today.

As the Venice Film Festival gets underway today, organisers are hitching their stars to director Steven Spielberg – just the man, they hope, to inspire Hollywood moguls and prize-hunting artists alike during 11 days of glitz and film magic.