Cannes gears up for film festival

By Andy Brownstone
Newsbeat reporter in Cannes

The 61st Cannes Film Festival begins today with anticipation running high ahead of Sunday's premiere of the new Indiana Jones movie.

The fourth instalment in the series sees Harrison Ford once again teaming up with director Stephen Spielberg and cracking the whip at the ripe old age of 65.

Meanwhile, the power players of the film world are getting ready to do big money deals and sip champagne in the sunshine of the French Riviera.

Kung Fu Panda features the voices of Jack Black and Angelina Jolie

Indeed, there's no cheap junk food or booze here. You'll be lucky to get a salad or a baguette for under a tenner.

But what about the films?

Well, there are plenty of them. Over 100 will be screened here in the next 12 days.

You're almost guaranteed to be able to go and see a film any hour of the day - and there's certainly a broad range on show.

The new epic Che, starring Benicio Del Toro as Cuban revolutionary leader Che Guevara, is four and a half hours long and could scoop the prestigious Palm d'Or prize.

Then you've got Kung Fu Panda, an animated tale of martial arts and animals featuring vocals from Jack Black and Angelina Jolie.

Beats the local flea pit - you can ever watch films on the beach.

There are also two interesting sport films about the lives of Maradonna and Mike Tyson.

And if you're feeling a bit old school, you can always go and see some of the classics like Enter the Dragon, Dirty Harry or Loony Tunes.

But the one the world's media will be most focused on is sure to be the Indiana Jones film.

When Harrison Ford rocks up here for the premiere on Sunday, this place is going to be bedlam.