The jury will pick the winner of the prestigious Palme d'Or prize, as well as six other awards, from the 23 films entered in the 12-day festival.

Ullmann: Took Jodie Foster's place as chairman

"I would like us to choose films that talk with talent, emotion and professionalism," said Liv Ullmann, Norwegian actress and chairman of the jury.

And she said: "We don't have to make movies for the intellect."

Cannes is the film industry's biggest and most prestigious festival of the year and is seen as the best place for film-makers to show off and sell their work.

The 10-person jury also includes French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, Taiwanese director Edward Yang, English actress Julia Ormond and British director and former Monty Python star Terry Gilliam

Gilliam wore a T-shirt with the slogan "Can be bribed" on the festival's opening day and joked: "I will choose the film whose producer gives me the largest amount of money."

Julia Ormond is on the Cannes festival jury

Gainsbourg was more serious, describing the philosophy of this year's jury.

"What's important is the emotion I feel when I watch a film," she said. "And I'll get that across in our meetings, even though people say I tend to keep quiet."

Ormond said going to the cinema should be a rounded experience.

"I think the movie experience is a very complete one as it touches you on all sorts of levels," she said. "It's a very emotional one."

When Ullmann's role as chairman was announced, she said films could "pass all our protective walls and go right into our deepest emotions".

The star, born in December 1939 in Tokyo, gained international fame after appearing in films by Swedish director Ingmar Bergman such as Shame, Cries and Whispers and Scenes from a Marriage.

Festival awards

Palme d'Or Grand Prix Best actor Best actress Best director Best screenplay Jury prize (technician)

Actress Jodie Foster was due to take the post of chairman, but was forced to pull out due to filming commitments.

The festival opened on Wednesday night with a showing of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge, starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor.

Also under consideration for this year's prizes are David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, the Coen brothers' The Man Who Wasn't There, The Pledge, directed by Sean Penn and starring Jack Nicholson, and DreamWorks' animated Shrek.

Films from 13 countries, including Iran, Bosnia, Taiwan and France have been short-listed - but no British films made the final list.

Last year's Palme d'Or was awarded to Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark, starring Bjork, who was also named best actress.

This year's festival ends on 20 May.