Midnight in Paris, the new film by Woody Allen will open the Festival de Cannes on May 11th in the Lumière Theatre, in the presence of the Jury presided by Robert De Niro.

The romantic comedy, which was shot last year in the French capital, brings together a broad international cast, including Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard, as well as Kathy Bates, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Gad Elmaleh and Léa Seydoux. Following London (Match Point) and Barcelona (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), it’s the turn of Paris to be honoured by the lens of the New York film director most appreciated by European audiences.

“Midnight in Paris is a wonderful love letter to Paris”, declared Festival director Thierry Frémaux. “It’s a film in which Woody Allen takes a deeper look at the issues raised in his last films: our relationship with history, art, pleasure and life. His 41st feature reveals once again his inspiration.”

The 64th Festival de Cannes is to take place Wednesday May 11th to Sunday 22nd May 2011.