France, May 12 -- Franco-Malian MC Eye Haidara will get the party started at the opening ceremony, accompanied by singers Theodora and Oklou in a Beatles number in honour of Peter Jackson, who has made a documentary about the Fab Four.

The New Zealand director, of The Lord of the Rings fame, is to receive the lifetime achievement award as part of the extravaganza on Tuesday evening.

The ceremony will be followed by the screening of French film La Venus electrique (The Electric Kiss) by Pierre Salvadori, a burlesque comedy set in 1920s Paris starring Anais Demoustier as a fake fortune teller who helps a struggling artist, played by Pio Marmai, get his mojo back.

The main competition begins in earnest on Wednesday, judged by South Korean...