A Week In Movies: Cannes Winds Down, Episode VII And Batman v Superman Cranks Up, New Trailers Promise Lots Of Action For Summer And Autumn

As the Cannes Film Festival winds down this weekend, a handful of films are emerging as frontrunners for the prestigious awards ceremony. Higher-profile contenders include David Cronenberg's 'Map to the Stars' starring Robert Pattinson, Mike Leigh's 'Mr Turner' starring Timothy Spall, the Dardenne brothers' 'Two Days One Night' starring Marion Cotillard and Tommy Lee Jones' 'The Homesman' starring Hilary Swank. Disappointments have included Olivier Dahan's 'Grace of Monaco' starring Nicole Kidman and Ryan Gosling's directing debut 'Lost River' starring Christina Hendricks. Take a look over our own top five Palme d'Or Winner predictions.

But for most movie fans, the even bigger news is that 'Star Wars: Episode VII' has started filming at Pinewood in London, complete with a competition fans can enter for a chance to actually appear in the movie. In a video clip for the charity initiative Star Wars: Force for Change, Jj Abrams explained this week that the programme will work with Unicef to help children around the world. Watch 'Star Wars: Force For Change' Trailer.

Meanwhile in Detroit, cameras have also started rolling on 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice', starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill in the title roles, along with Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Holly Hunter, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. The complete title clearly hints at a forthcoming Justice League film. We investigate: Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice, but who Are The Justice League?

Several big movies released new trailers this week, including a more detailed look at this summer's sequel/reboot 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' starring Mark Wahlberg, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci and Kelsey Grammer. This seriously massive rampage of all-out destruction opens in July. Watch 'Transformers: Age Of Extinction' Trailer.

There was also a more detailed trailer for this summer's 'Guardians of the Galaxy', launching another side to Marvel's Avengers universe as five rag-tag heroes (Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel and Dave Bautista) try to save the universe from a mega-villain. Costars include Glenn Close and John C. Reilly, and the film opens in August. Watch 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' Trailer.

'Kingsman: The Secret Service' stars Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Caine and Mark Strong in what looks like a witty action romp about a troubled but intelligent teen drafted into a top-secret spy agency. It comes from the formidable team of director Matthew Vaughn and writer Jane Goldman, who also made Kick-ass and X-men: First Class. It's out in October. Watch 'Kingsman: The Secret Service' Trailer.

And the comedy-thriller 'Life of Crime' takes an even more humorous approach. It's based on a Elmore Leonard novel about a philandering husband's kidnapping plan, which spirals wildly out of control. Jennifer Aniston, Tim Robbins, Isla Fisher, John Hawkes and Mos Def star in the movie, which opens in September. Watch 'Life Of Crime' Trailer.