There are no clear favourites, but a strong Asian line-up of eight films has the edge over a few possibles from Europe.

The jury, headed by French director Luc Besson, have gathered amid the customary secrecy in a villa in the hills outside Cannes to make their decision.

With no stand-out candidates from Europe, the judges may be strongly tempted to look eastwards when they announce the awards on Sunday evening.

Among the films that have won over the critics are Jiang Wen's audacious tragi-comedy Guizi Lai Le, (Devils on the Doorstep), about the Sino-Japanese war, Edward Yang's reflective middle class drama from Taiwan Yi Yi, and the first ever South Korean entry in competition, Im Kwon Taek's Chunhyang.

The Iranian prodigy Samira Makhmalbaf, just 20, has impressed Cannes with her film, Blackboards.

It has been described as an epic tale of three generations of displaced Kurds adrift in the mountains.

European offerings

The latest offering by Danish director Lars Von Trier, Dancer in the Dark. starring the Icelandic singer Bjork has pleased the crowds. But its blend of musical and jailhouse weepie has divided the critics.