Woody Allen's Café Society opens the Cannes festival

The Cannes Film Festival opens tonight (Wednesday). It's the 69th year for what has become the world's biggest international cinema gathering. On Wednesday night, before the screening starts, all eyes and cameras will be on the celebrities walking along a piece of red carpet leading to the Festival Hall on the sea front. 

Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg in "Café Society" directed by Woody Allen Festival de Cannes 2016

Woody Allen's Café Society is the Cannes Film Festival's opening film, a 1930s Hollywood love story.

Since 1966, Allen has directed more than 50 films and written more than 70. Although his films have scooped four Oscars, he has won two prizes at Cannes. One for lifetime achievement back in 2002, and one from the foreign correspondents, FIPRESCI award, in 1985 for the Purple Rose of Cairo.

The latest from the 80 year-old US director has a suitable title given it's chosen to première on one of the most mondaine evenings of the year in the French rivera resort town.

Along with Allen, and others, US actress Kristen Stewart and countryfellow Jesse Eisenberg, who star in his film.

Stewart also stars in Personnal Shopper directed by French director Olivier Assayas, a Cannes regular, one of the 21 films with a shot at the 2016 Golden Palm.

Festival-goers may not notice any obvious difference in security, as it's been pretty tight the last few years at the Cannes Film Festival, but the interior minister says more steps have been taken this year in the face of recent events in Europe, and the number of security personnel increased.

Film makers entered their latest works just the same as any other year. 21 films competing for the Golden Palm will screen from Thursday 12th to Sunday 22nd May.  Among them are European entries from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Rumania, Spain and the UK, and also from Brazil, Canada, Iran, the Philippines, South Korea and the US.

The nine palm award judges are headed by Australian director George Miller, known for his Mad Max adventure films spanning four decades.

18 compete in the second tier, Un Certain Regard competition.

The general public in France may share in the excitement of the opening on Wednesday evening as Café Society premières not only in Cannes, but also in cinema halls around the country at the same time.

During the festival two films in competition will première in France. One is local film hero Bruno Dumont's Ma Loute or Slack Bay, opening on Friday 13th.

By all accounts it will be more than a feast for the eyes only. It stars internationally-known Juliette Binoche, French mega-star Fabrice Lucchini and actress-director, Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi.

Julieta by Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, stars some of his favourite women, and some of his favourite female actors like Rossy de Palma will help tug at heartstrings with his special brand of colourful, profound sentiment.