Weisz And Blanchett Films Contenders In Cannes

The latest works by Cate Blanchett, Rachel Weisz and Matthew McConaughey will be among those going head-to-head at the Cannes Film Festival next month.

Blanchett will appear with Rooney Mara in Carol, which is based on Patricia Highsmith's novel about lovers in 1950s New York.

Rachel Weisz will be in two movies: the Italian-directed La Giovinezza also featuring Sir Michael Caine and Jane Fonda, and Greece's The Lobster with Colin Farrell.

McConaughey stars in the American film The Sea Of Trees with Naomi Watts.

Films starring Benicio del Toro and Salma Hayek will also be vying for Cannes' Palme d'Or top prize.

Other movies chosen included several Asian picks and an Australian version of Macbeth starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.

Organisers told a media conference in Paris that they had so far finalised 17 films for the competition, but would be adding two to four more in the coming weeks to have around 20 movies.

Winners of the Palme d'Or and other prizes will be chosen by a jury led by directors Joel and Ethan Coen.

A documentary about the life of singer Amy Winehouse will also be shown at the festival.

The movie, called Amy, is directed by Asif Kapadia who had success with his documentary Senna, about the Brazilian Formula 1 driver.

The Cannes Film Festival will run from 13 to 24 May.