[ti:18 Films Seek Top Prize at Cannes Film Festival] [ar:Caty Weaver] [al:As It Is] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]The 68th Festival de Cannes opened Wednesday in France. [00:05.09]Many in the movie-making business [00:08.33]consider the 12-day event [00:11.08]to be the most important film festival in the world. [00:15.41]A director's career can soar [00:18.70]after winning the festival's top prize, the famed Palme d'Or. [00:23.99]Just having a movie entered in the festival can mean more money, [00:29.89]respect and possibilities for actors, [00:33.79]producers and other industry workers. [00:37.19]Hundreds of thousands of people visit the seaside town [00:42.79]during the international film festival. [00:45.88]There are thousands of movies to see. [00:49.18]The French film, "La Tete Haute," opened this year's festival. [00:54.69]Its English title is "Standing Tall." [00:58.35]The movie features a new actor, 17-year-old Rod Paradot. [01:04.37]He plays the part of a troubled, violent boy [01:08.81]who faces the youth detention system again and again. [01:13.61]Paradot stars in the film with French movie legend Catherine Deneuve. [01:19.96]She plays a caring judge who tries to save the boy. [01:24.63]Filmmaker Emmanuelle Bercot directed "La Tete Haute." [01:29.79]It is just the second film [01:32.58]from a woman director to open the "Festival de Cannes." [01:37.59]Critics widely praised the film "Carol" with actresses Cate Blanchett [01:43.29]and Rooney Mara who play lovers in the movie. [01:46.55]Other films up for the Palme include the Japanese picture, [01:51.96]"Our Little Sister," the French film, "Valley of Love," [01:56.28]and "Mountains May Depart," a movie from China. [02:00.96]An ugly cartoon drawing of Catherine Deneuve at Cannes [02:05.94]was the cover of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo this week. [02:12.13]The cartoon made fun of the 71-year-old actress' weight [02:17.31]and the strong security presence at the festival. [02:21.31]Deneuve seemed to deal with the insult with ease. [02:25.37]"I hope it's funny," she said, "Even if it's nasty." [02:29.64]The deadly attack by Muslim extremists [02:34.44]on Charlie Hebdo's Paris office in January [02:38.82]influenced security plans at Cannes. [02:42.42]There is always a strong police presence at the festival [02:47.11]as it attracts the rich and, as a result, thieves. [02:52.05]But, this year, increased fears of terrorism led to expanded security. [02:59.54]Hundreds of local and national police, riot forces, [03:04.93]and other agents are on guard. [03:08.10]Hundreds of video cameras are also in place. [03:11.98]As always, the press is taking pictures [03:16.77]and providing commentary on the comings and goings of the stars. [03:21.90]Salma Hayek met with the press in a sleek black [03:26.45]and red dress by designer Alexander McQueen. [03:29.63]Hayek is at Cannes to support her new film "Tale of Tales." [03:35.47]Matteo Garrone directed the movie, [03:38.96]which is based on 17th century Italian fairy tales. [03:43.60]It is one of 18 films competing for this year's Palme d'Or. [03:49.72]Cast member John C. Reilly also met with the press for "Tale of Tales." [03:55.89]He dressed for the seaside in a summery suit and hat. [04:00.57]Reilly is also in two other films being presented at the Festival de Cannes. [04:07.13]Last year, the Palme d'Or went to the Turkish film, "Winter Sleep." [04:12.57]This year, who knows? But two directors with a winning history [04:18.44]are co-presidents of the 2015 Cannes prize jury. [04:23.26]American brothers Joel and Ethan Coen won the Palme d'Or in 1991 [04:30.62]for their film "Barton Fink." [04:32.92]Their movie "Inside Llewyn Davis" won Cannes' second prize, [04:38.27]the Grand Prix, in 2013. [04:41.36]I'm Caty Weaver. [04:43.30]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51voa.com