Shu Qi (left) and Asia Argento pose on the red carpet at the opening ceremony of the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 13, 2009. (SOHU.COM)

Cannes lifted off Wednesday with 3D cartoon comedy Up as Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino and a bevy of auteur directors and megastars lined up for the French Riviera film festival frenzy.

The notoriously extravagant event has toned down the glitz in this time of economic crisis, but there was little gloom here as the crowds gathered to cheer celebrities sashaying up the red carpet for the gala opening.

Isabelle Huppert, the French actress leading the jury that on May 24 will pick the winner from among 20 films vying for the Palme d'Or top prize.

She and her eight-strong team, including Chinese Hong Kong film star Shu Qi, will choose from the work of directors such as Spain's Pedro Almodovar, Palestinian Elia Suleiman, Park Chan-Wook of South Korea and Denmark's Lars Von Trier.

Ang Lee's new film, Taking Woodstock and Spring Fever directed by Beijing filmmaker Lou Ye are also competing at the event.

(CRIENGLISH.com May 14, 2009)