A number of familiar names are set to compete at the 61st Festival de Cannes, organizers announced today in Paris. While the fest has yet to announce its opening and closing films, nineteen features are set to vie for the Palme d'Or. Among the films in competition are new work by The Dardenne Brothers, Arnaud Desplechin, Atom Egoyan, Clint Eastwood, Lucrecia Martel, Walter Salles, Steven Soderbergh, and Wim Wenders. The fest's opening and closing films were not designated in this morning's announcement.

Get the full story at indieWIRE.com.

Janet Pierson has been named the new producer of the SXSW Film Festival and Conference, the organization has just announced. Matt Dentler, who has served as producer of the fest since 2004, has accepted a position in New York City to head the marketing and programming operations of Cinetic Media's new digital rights management unit, the festival said in an announcement.

iW posted a full story on the announcements this evening at indieWIRE.com.