Aishwarya rai bachan's latest poses at cannes

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American actor Harrison Ford and his girlfriend American actress Calista Flockhart at the 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' premiere during the 61st International film festival in France on Sunday,




Israeli-US actress and member of the Jury Natalie Portman poses as she arrives to attend the screening of US director Steven Soderbergh's film 'Che' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival on May 21, 2008 in Cannes, southern France.




Dutch model Doutzen Kroes poses as she arrives to attend the screening of Steven Soderbergh's film 'Che' at the 61st Cannes International Film Festival on May 21, 2008 in Cannes, southern France.





Singer Madonna (L) and actress Sharon Stone wave on the red carpet before the screening of 'Che' by U.S director Steven Soderbergh at the 61st Cannes Film Festival May.

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Exhausted Preity Zinta flies off to Cannes

In between cheering lustily for her Indian Premier League (IPL) team and comforting the players, Bollywood star Preity Zinta has taken a few days off to attend the Cannes Film Festival as brand ambassador of Chopard, the maker of luxury watches and jewellery.

"Can't help it," the co-owner of the Mohali team told IANS. "For two years now I've been the brand ambassador for Chopard and I've to be at Cannes every year, come what may... ha, ha pun intended."

The actress, who featured in hits like "Soldier", "Kal Ho Naa Ho" and "Dil Chahta Hai", has several events lined up in Cannes, but no movies.

"There are no movies this year. I'd have liked to bring my film 'Har Pal', but it isn't ready. If Rituparno Ghosh's 'Last Lear' is shown, I'll go for it. But Chopard will keep me busy for the next three days.

“I've a red carpet event. Then a dinner organised by Chopard followed by a picnic in the afternoon. I return on May 17 and head immediately for my IPL commitments."

Understandably, she's exhausted. "But I'm also exhilarated. The IPL has been a whole new learning experience for me," said Preity, who is accompanied to Cannes by her cousin Inder.

What about those who feel that IPL is confusing?

"Not at all! It's such an eye-opener. Players of different age groups and of different nationalities are interacting on one platform. The younger lot is learning from senior international names. Where would they get a chance to do that?"

Angelina jolie at cannes

Angelina Jolie talked at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday about her pregnancy with twins as well as motherhood.

Confirmation of a fifth and sixth child for Jolie came yesterday during a side-by-side interview she did with 'Kung Fu Panda' co-star Jack Black.

During a press conference about the film, Jolie confirmed: "Yes, they are twins."

Asked about reports that she was planning to give birth in France, Jolie replied she had not completely decided, but added: "We are certainly thinking of France."

She said French was a second language which her children were starting to speak, "so being here is very good for them at this time".

Jolie, who said she was feeling "great", talked about making sure her adopted children knew about their Asian heritage.

She said she had teachers to her house to educate them about Vietnamese and Cambodian culture.

She said she was "thrilled'' when the movie, which has been described as a love letter to China, came her way, because she knew how special it would be to her children.

Earthquake

Jolie also talked about the earthquake in China, saying: "Right now, the process is about seeing what's being done and seeing what appeals need to be made.

"I will be very active, as much as I can be, and as much as China wants and allows the UN to be."

Black was asked if he identified with his character, and said: "I don't feel like I was playing a character when I played Po. I was just myself. I think of myself as a bear."

He said he was sometimes fierce and crazy, adding: "I am Po. There was very little acting involved."

Asked if the film was saying it was fine to be a chubby panda and whether that was the message to send to overweight children, Black said: "I'm going to say 'yes' to that."

Jolie said that like her favourite movie as a child -- 'Dumbo' -- the film's message was to embrace who you were and not try to be somebody else.

Dustin Hoffman butted in with a joke at one point: "I just want to say that there was a point in time when Angelina could have chosen between me and Brad.''

Standards

The actor, who described himself as "70 from the neck up" to applause, also talked about how the actors mostly recorded their voices alone in a studio.

He said: "The directors filmed us at the same time. They gave the film to the animators.''

Asked about the leap from 'The Graduate' to 'Kung Fu Panda', he said jokingly: "It's a decline in culture -- but it has also reached your profession. We're all in the same bag here together."

Eva shows how to make an entrance at Cannes

Actor Sean Penn yesterday issued a warning to Barack Obama that he may have to become a greater man than he has ever been or face "dangerous disillusionment''.

Penn, jury president of the 61st Cannes Film Festival, was speaking at a press conference..

The actor said he was not supporting a particular US presidential candidate, but was "encouraged and excited'' by the support Obama had received.

He said: "I hope he will understand if he is the nominee the dangerous disillusionment that will happen if he does not become a greater man than he's ever been.''

He said failure to do so may be a "death knell'' adding: "This is the most important election in my lifetime and maybe ever.''

Fellow jury member Natalie Portman said she was not endorsing anyone but added that it was a very exciting year for American politics, "for the first time we have to chose between who we like better instead of who we hate less''.

Ravaged

A film called The Third Wave, which concerns the work of volunteers in tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka, has been chosen to be shown as president of the jury's choice.

Penn said of the film: "I thought it was such an important movie because of the state of the world being what it is and the unlikelihood that the problems will be solved by politicians made this film particularly poignant to me.''

He described the movie as the closest he had seen to going towards answering what the purpose of life was.

However, all eyes are set to be on the world premiere of the Indiana Jones sequel during the two-week event.

Outside the competition, Steven Spielberg's 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull', sees Harrison Ford back in the role for the first time in 19 years.

Steven Soderbergh's four-hour biopic of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara is also said to be in contention with the topfilms competing for the mainPalme d'Or.