THOR (12A) has all the hallmarks of a movie made not for its own sake but for the purpose of establishing a franchise.

Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers and Gus Van Sant - all past winners of the Cannes Film Festival - are in the running for a second trophy as the French Riviera festival celebrates its 60th anniversary next month.

AS the credits roll on another Cannes Film Festival, it may go down as a year in which the on-screen line-up outshone that on the famed red carpet.

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.