3 Chinese films jostling for Palme d'Or: Shanghai Dreams (L) ; Election (M) ; Three Times (R) .

Three Chinese films are among twenty-one films for in contention for the top prize, the Palme d'Or, at the 58th Cannes Film Festival, which opens today in France.

Wang Xiaoshuai, one of the leading lights of China's young directors, brings a tragic love story "Shanghai Dreams" to Cannes.

Taiwan's Hou Hsiao-Hsien will unveil the film, "Three Times", about lovers who meet in three separate lifetimes, and Hong Kong's Johnnie To will make his competition debut with "Election", a thriller starring Nick Cheung and Cantonese heart-throb Tony Leung.

Meanwhile a major Chinese delegation is expected at the French Riviera resort to mark 100 years of Chinese cinema.

Hong Kong's John Woo is serving on the nine-strong Palme d'Or jury, headed this year by Sarajevo-born director Emir Kusturica.

And Taiwanese director Edward Yang is heading the jury for the Cinefondation -- a section devoted to young talent.

(CRIENGLISH.com)

leading light : 有影響的重要人物

heart-throb : 心跳，情人