Once again the Cannes Film Festival will bring together filmmakers and actors from around the world and across generations. The festival roster this year features 19 films and while some, like Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring, are glitzy LA productions, there is a lot of world cinema in the lineup as well, especially from countries where film production is notoriously difficult and rare. This is part of the festival’s mission. Artistic director Thierry Fremaux said this Thursday that the festival aims to protect talent in countries where freedom of speech is threatened. This mission statement seems particularly apt for this year’s edition, which features such films as Chadian work “Grigris” and Chinese film “A Touch of Sin.” The Mexican narco-flick “Heli” highlights the endurance of family and love in crisis.

The lineup also features a number of titles, which have been hyped up for months now, such as Steven Soderbergh’s Liberace biopic “Behind the Candelabra.” For the full festival lineup, visit the official Cannes website.

Steven Spielberg, Hollywood Reporter Nominees' Night 2013
For the first time, Spielberg will have the final say on the winner of the Golden Palm.

Of course, well-known actors like Ryan Gosling will also make an appearance on the big screen as well as the red carpet. One of the most exciting pieces of news coming from Cannes in recent months has been the announcement that, after years of previous engagements, Steven Spielberg will finally return to his Cannes roots as president of the festival’s jury.