A smart, stylish, slightly random jury to preside over Cannes 2012

This year’s Cannes jury is, as always, an international, stylish, somewhat random gallery of cinema professionals - and one outsider. Here’s a breakdown of who’ll be butting heads, bonding, and choosing prizewinners behind closed doors.

Cannes selection: Prize-winners, pretty young things, and tales of sex and violence

Lots of past prize-winners, movies brimming with sex and violence, and pretty young things hoping to graduate to the big leagues....Here's a closer look at what this year's enticing Cannes competition has in store.

Malick’s ‘Tree of Life’ wins Palme d’Or (and half the press rejoices)

A festival that started off slow but gained in momentum and drama drew to a close tonight with “The Tree of Life”, Terrence Malick’s stunning meditation on memory and childhood, winning the coveted Palme d’Or.

Two late-festival gems, and if I could pick the Palme….

The end of the festival brought two revelations: a haunting Turkish police procedural and a glorious French musical screened out of competition. But if I could pick the prize-winners, here's who would be bringing home the glory.

Banished Von Trier steals Almodovar's (feeble) thunder, and critics react

The press barely had time to digest Pedro Almodovar's so-so "The Skin I Live In" before news hit that Lars Von Trier had been asked to leave the festival following his comments about Jews at a press conference. Some critics have defended him.

Cannes boots Lars Von Trier after his comments on Hitler and Jews

Cannes organisers have released a statement saying that Lars Von Trier, who set off a storm yesterday with his statements on Hitler and Jews at the press conference for his film “Melancholia”, is no longer welcome at the festival.

Bad boys of the Croisette: Von Trier and French politicians burst Cannes bubble

Wednesday was a drama-filled day, with Lars Von Trier's "Melancholia" overshadowed by the director's comments to the press, and "The Conquest" adding to a turbulent week in French politics.

Egyptian star Amr Waked on why he’s boycotting the screening of his own film

A controversy has been brewing around “18 Days”, a series of short films by Egyptian directors – some of whom had ties to former President Hosni Mubarak. We spoke to one of the stars of the film, Amr Waked, who is boycotting its Cannes screening.

Competition picks up steam with Malick’s beautiful, booed ‘Tree of Life’

An underwhelming competition picked up major steam with the festival's most hotly anticipated film, Terrence Malick's bold, beautiful "The Tree of Life" -- cue obnoxious booing at this morning's press screening.

Red carpet memories between grim movies

With grim movies galore, it can be easy to forget that there's a fun, glamorous side to Cannes -- which is why we caught up for a quick interview with one of the most seasoned photographers on the red carpet.