Aniston to show directing skills

Aniston played Rachel Green in the US hit show Friends

Actress Jennifer Aniston is to showcase her directorial debut at a California short film festival later this month, says trade paper Hollywood Reporter.

The Friends star has directed romantic drama Room 10, which stars Robin Wright Penn and Kris Kristofferson.

Bryce Dallas Howard - recently seen in Spider-Man 3 - will also screen a film she directed, called Orchids.

The 2007 Palm Springs Festival of Short Films festival opens on 23 August and plays host to more than 350 films.

Other familiar names who will appear in some of the shorts on display include James Gandolfini in Club Soda and Patrick Stewart and Joanna Lumley in The Audition.

Room 10 is set in the emergency room of a hospital, and focuses on the true story of a nurse who discovers deeper meaning in her life after treating a dying patient.

It was co-directed by Aniston and her friend Andrea Buchanan, who was also the screenwriter.

The pair previously won a jury prize for the drama at the Cinevegas Film Festival in Las Vegas.

World premieres

The Palm Springs festival, also known as Shortfest, will showcase 54 world premieres across its six-day run.

A panel of judges will hand out awards in nine categories, with two additional prizes also on offer.

The Alexis award is named in honour of Alexis Echavarria, a 16-year-old film student who died suddenly upon returning from volunteer work in Thailand just as the festival had accepted his film two years ago.

Participants will also compete to win the Hi Five to Lo Fi award for best low-budget short film.

That prize will be presented by director Jason Reitman's production company Hard C Productions.

The full line-up for the festival is due to be announced on 15 August.