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Cannes revs up for glitzy film festival
May 16 -- Cannes is gearing up for the 2006 film festival starting Wednesday, as a host of A-list stars jet in for a 12-day orgy of glitz and glamor, with hotels booked solid and luxury yachts jostling for harbor space.

As case-loads of champagne and caviar arrive in the southern French resort to wine and dine thousands of industry stars, hoteliers and restauranteurs are making sure everything is ready for tomorrow's grand opening.

This year's opening with "The Da Vinci Code" helps ensure that the 59th festival media coverage will reach fever pitch, with this once small fishing village set to be headline news around the world.

For the resort's businesses it's all good news, coupled with the fact that this year's festival, which lasts until May 28, is one day longer than usual.

This could be "a very good year, served by numerous stars and a balanced selection over the two weeks," said Michel Chevillon, president of the Cannes hotel association.

Among the stars expected are Monica Bellucci, Helena Bonham Carter, Penelope Cruz, Kirsten Dunst, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, The Rock and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Bars, hotels and even real estate agents are doubling their staff for the two weeks which Chevillon estimated could bring in some 150 million euros (U.S.$192.5 million) to the resort.

Event organizers are also rolling up their sleeves with a host of swanky parties planned throughout the festival.