Film Competitions Begin

'Summer Palace' — AP Photo/Francois Mori

Chinese actors Hu Ling Ling, left, Hao Lei, second from left, director Lou Ye, second from right, and actor Guo Xiaodong pose during a photo call for the film "Summer Palace," at the 59th International film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Thursday, May 18, 2006. This film will be shown in competition Thursday night.

Chinese actress Hao Lei, left, gestures as she poses with actress Hu Ling Ling during a news conference for the film "Summer Palace," in Cannes, southern France, May 18, 2006. Described as a racy love story set amid China's pro-democracy protests of 1989, it's the only Asian film competing for the top prize at the film festival.

Chinese actors Hao Lei, left, Guo Xiaodong, center, and Hu Ling Ling of the film "Summer Palace," appear at the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 18, 2006. The film festival competition got under way with the film, a complex love story set against the backdrop of China's changing political climate.

'Wind That Shakes Barley'

Irish actors Cillian Murphy, left, and Padraic Delaney of the film "The Wind That Shakes the Barley," attend a news conference for the film at the 59th International Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on Thursday, May 18, 2006. The film will be shown in competition Thursday night.

Irish actors Cillian Murphy, left, Orla Fitzgerald, center, and Padraic Delaney pose during a photo call for the film "The Wind That Shakes the Barley," at the 59th International film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Thursday, May 18, 2006.

Irish actor Cilliam Murphy of "The Wind That Shakes The Barley," an entry at the Cannes Film festival, May 19, 2006. The jury will be watching British director Ken Loach's entry, which focuses on the run up to the Irish Civil War in 1922 and Ireland's struggle for independence from Britain.

Irish actor Liam Cunningham take a picture in Cannes, southern France, May 18, 2006. Cunningham stars in "The Wind That Shakes the Barley," which is directed by Britain's Ken Loach.

British director Ken Loach appears during an interview for his new film "The Wind That Shakes the Barley," outside a hotel at the 59th international film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Thursday, May 18, 2006. Loach's latest film premiered Thursday in the festival's main competition.

'Paris Je T'Aime'

French actress Juliette Binoche, left, and U.S. actress Gena Rowlands of the film "Paris Je T'Aime" at the 59th edition of the International Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, Southern France, Thursday, May 18, 2006. The film competition gets under way Thursday.

Actor Elijah Wood poses in front of French director Bruno Podalydes during a news conference for the film "Paris Je T'Aime" at the International Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, Southern France, May 18, 2006. The film also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Juliette Binoche, Steve Buscemi and Nick Nolte.

Actor Nick Nolte of the film "Paris Je T'Aime" poses at the 59th edition of the International Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, Southern France, May 18, 2006. The film features 20 stories of love in Paris, the city of love, by 20 different filmmakers.

Actress Miranda Richardson attends a news conference promoting her new film "Paris Je T'aime" during the 59th International Cannes Film Festival May 18, 2006, in Cannes, France.

From left, actors Miranda Richardson, Juliette Binoche, Nick Nolte and Gena Rowlands pose in Cannes, southern France, May 19, 2006. The actors all appear in the film "Paris Je T'aime," which is in competition at the film festival.

Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal poses during a photo call for the film "Paris Je T'aime," at the 59th international film festival in Cannes, southern France, May 18, 2006. Gyllenhaal appears in one of 20 love stories that makes up the film.

French actress Aissa Maiga poses during te 2006 cannes Film festival in Cannes, southern France, May 18, 2006. Maiga appears in the collaborative film "Paris Je T'aime," which is being shown at the festival.

Honors For Poitier

Actor Sidney Poitier is awarded Commander in the Order of the Arts and Letters by France's Minister of Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, right, during a ceremony at the Festival Palace, during Cannes Film Festival, May 18, 2006. In 1964, he became the first black performer in a leading role to win an Academy Award, for "Lilies of the Field."

Actor Sidney Poitier poses after being awarded France's highest arts honor -- the Commander in the Order of the Arts and Letters -- during a ceremony at the Festival Palace, in Cannes, France, on Thursday, May 18, 2006. The culture minister praised the Oscar winner for tearing down barriers for black actors in Hollywood.

American actor Sidney Poitier, left, poses with his wife Joanna Shimkus after being awarded Commander in the Order of the Arts and Letters by France's Minister of Culture Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres during a ceremony at the Festival Palace, at the 59th international film festival in Cannes, southern France, on Thursday, May 18, 2006.