Cannes' most charitable party, which raises money for organisations like the AIDS Crisis Trust and Medecin Sans Frontieres, is made possible this year through the support and generosity of the Karlovy Vary and Mar del Plata film festivals; Progress Filmverleih's film Bastard (Brute); and the individuals Paco Hoyos and Robert Coughlin. 

Companies chipping in to help create a good time for a worthy cause include Jos Cuervo, Perrier, Campari, Pilsner, Vittel and Magnum ice-cream. Featuring the usual smorgasbord of 
entertainment, Pink Martini and the Ceres Band will perform. 

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Daily briefing 

The line between evangelism and showbusiness has always been razor thin. Let's not forget that Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart were cousins and bosom buddies. Robert Duvall's debut feature, The Apostle (screening in Un Certain Regard) plugs into the bizarre world of pentecostal preaching and religious revivalism. As in Sinclair Lewis' novel, Elmer Gantry (made into a memorable film with Burt Lancaster), the preacher in question is a far more complex and troubled soul than any of his flock of followers. 

Alexei Gherman's Khrustalyov, Machinu! (showing today in competition) is shaping up as one of the most controversial films of the festival. As Moving Pictures revealed, there were moves last week to halt the screening when Finnish producer-director Pekka Lehto claimed that Gherman had infringed his copyright. 

Whatever its provenance, Khrustalyov still sounds like a fascinating picture. Set in 1953 during the final days of the Stalin era, it is the story of a brain specialist at a Moscow hospital who is caught up in the notorious 'white coats' conspiracy.