BEIJING, April 24 -- The film "Summer Palace," by China's director Lou Ye, has been nominated to compete for this year's Golden Palme d'Or in the 59th Cannes Film Festival.

    The film is the only Asian film in Cannes' main competition section. It tells a story of two youths fond of arts experiencing their love against the backdrop of changing time and space.

    Two other Chinese films, "Luxury Car" by Wang Chao and "Gwaiwik" by directors from Hong Kong, enter Cannes' non-competitive section Un Certain Regard, the organizers said.

    Taiwan director Su Chao-pin's horror flick "Silk" and Hong Kong director Johnnie To's "Election 2" will be screened at the annual event.

    The 59th Cannes Film Festival is to be held through May 17 to 28, with 19 movies in the main competition vying for the prestigious Palme d'Or trophy.

    Among them are "Volver," the latest film by popular Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, "Marie-Antoninette" by U.S. director Sofia Coppola, "Babel" by Mexico's Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, and "Laitakaupungin Valot" by Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki.

    Outside the competition, some movies are also certain to catch attention, such as "United 93," a real-time account of what was believed to have happened on the fourth plane hijacked in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

    Ron Howard's "The Da Vinci Code" will be the opening-night movie, but it is not competing for prizes.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/ Agencies)