CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Cannes festival opens with drama.

Indian actress Aishwarya Rai with French star Laetitia Casta. The Cannes film festival has opened with a red carpet screening of surreal French drama Lemming, one of 21 films competing for the Palme d'Or prize.

Indian actress Aishwarya Rai declared the event open after an overhead gymnastic display by a member of Canada's Cirque du Soleil troupe. The 58th festival is the world's most prestigious film industry gathering. Jury president Emir Kusturica joined actress Salma Hayek and fellow jurors at Wednesday's gala opening. Those in the audience included US actor Dennis Hopper, French actress Catherine Deneuve and French model Laetitia Casta.

Cannes film festival attracts more than 40,000 movie industry workers every year.