Inland Empire, Volver, The Fountain: All Set For Cannes?

The Guardian are claiming that many of Cannes' bigger films for the year have already been lined up, almost a month before the program is officially unveiled. Lynch's Inland Empire, Almodovar's Volver and Aranofsky's The Fountain are likely to be amongst the absolute cream. That's one hell of a promising trio - I'd even be tempted to trade one of my limbs for a ticket to each and hop all the way to the croisette.

Cannes may easily be the world's greatest festival, but the Guardian's full list also includes works of doubtful artistic merit, of course. There's Babel from Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, and Sophia Copolla's little Marie-Antoinette number. The Da Vinci Code is already known to be in place as the hype-fuelling opening night gala.

Nanni Moretti's The Caiman - pointedly set for Itallian release before this year's elections - is a satirical skewering of Silvio Berlusconi. It's my current pick for the Palm d'Or this year, but I reserve the right to change my prediction once it is officially announced whether or not the film is even in the festival. Should it win, however, remember where you heard it first.