AFP

Cannes, May 16: A road movie set in the United States and directed by a Hong Kong filmmaker was to open the Cannes film festival on Wednesday, in a showy bow to the event's global credentials.

'My Blueberry Nights', by director Wong Kar Wai, is to get the full red-carpet treatment when it kicks off the 10-day festival under the glare of international media.   

Singer Norah Jones, who is making her big-screen debut after a string of top-selling soulful albums, was expected to attend the premiere with Wong and co-stars Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Tim Roth and Natalie Portman.   

The movie, the first of 22 films competing for Cannes's prestigious Palme d'Or prize, is Wong's first English-language feature after such arthouse hits as '2046' and 'In the Mood for Love'.

Its selection underlined the growing influence of Asia in Cannes and in world cinema generally, and of the enduring fascination with US culture.

Over the course of the festival, other top-grade directors will be presenting their latest titles, including previous Palme winners Quentin Tarantino with 'Death Proof', the Coen brothers with 'No Country for Old Men' and Emir Kusturica with 'Promise Me This'.

Out of competition, 'Sicko', the latest documentary by Michael Moore, who won the Palme three years ago with 'Fahrenheit 9/11', will be one of the hottest tickets.

And Cannes's star power, normally in no short supply, will be turned up to a blinding level one night next week when most of the cast of 'Ocean's Thirteen' turn out.