Cannes Film Festival May 15 Report: Star Wars Mania

There's no doubt about it. The biggest buzz at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival isn't even a movie in competition. "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," is taking Cannes by storm. The film festival will host the eagerly-awaited final installment's world premier showings today at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Cannes time). Director George Lucas received a festival trophy aboard the elegant Cunard cruise ship, Queen Mary 2. The presentation included a video tribute to his prolific career. Even the public (a.k.a. regular shmoes) in Cannes get their own special outdoor screening of the orginial 1977 "Star Wars" movie at 9:30 p.m.

Oh, and there are, like, other movies showing today. Really! Some are very cool! They are:

• BATALLA EN EL CIELO (BATTLE IN HEAVEN) by Carlos REYGADAS (In Competition)
• CACHÉ (HIDDEN) by Michael HANEKE (In Competition)
• ELECTION by Johnnie TO (In Competition)
• QUANDO SEI NATO NON PUOI PIU NASCONDERTI by Marco Tullio GIORDANA (In Competition)
• DAL_KOM_HAN IN-SAENG (A BITTERSWEET LIFE) by Jee-woon KIM (Out of Competition)
• LES ARTISTES DU THEATRE BRULE by Rithy PANH (Out of Competition)
• FALSCHER BEKENNER (LOW PROFILE) by Christoph HOCHHÄUSLER (Un certain regard)
• THE KING by James MARSH (Un certain regard)
• VOKSNE MENNESKER (DARK HORSE) by Dagur KÁRI (Un certain regard)
• 49TH PARALLEL by Michael POWELL (Cannes Classics)
• AL'LÈÈSSI... UNE ACTRICE AFRICAINE by Rahmatou KEÏTA (Cannes Classics)
• THE EDGE OF THE WORLD by Michael POWELL (Cannes Classics)

Track all the red carpet happenings with my Cannes Film Festival 2005 Coverage page. Coming tomorrow: A look at David Cronenberg's, "A History of Violence," in competition and scheduled for screening.