Charlotte Rampling will chair the festival jury

India's Yash Chopra, Janusz Kaminski, and US artist Matthew Barney - the husband of Icelandic singer Bjork - are among the eight-strong jury.

In December it was revealed that British actress Charlotte Rampling will chair the panel.

The 56th Berlinale will take place from 9 to 19 February.

Epic

The festival is among the world's most prestigious industry gatherings and the first major European film competition of 2006.

For the first time in the festival's history, the jury will not announce the awards until the actual ceremony on 18 February.

Colin Farrell's The New World will be screened at the festival

South Korean actress Lee Young Ae (Sympathy for Lady Vengeance), Dutch director Marleen Gorris (Antonia's Line), German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl (Sine) and Hollywood producer Fred Roos round out the jury.

A total of 26 films - including those running out of competition - will feature in the Berlinale programme.

Snow Cake, starring Alan Rickman and Sigorney Weaver, will have its world premiere in competition at the festival.

The film, directed by Marc Evans, recounts the story of a friendship between a man who has been seriously traumatised by a car crash and an autistic woman.

Other films confirmed as competing for the Golden and Silver Bears include Neil Armfield's Candy, starring Brokeback Mountain's Heath Ledger, and Grbavica, by Bosnian director Jasmila Zbanic.

Colin Farrell's epic The New World and George Clooney's thriller Syriana are to be screened out of competition.