I've heard of film-makers being treated as if they're God, but this year in Cannes there is a living film-maker who is actually the incarnation of a saint. Bhutanese director Khyentse Norbu, who's in town with his film The Cup, is one of the most important incarnate lamas in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Born in 1961 he was recognised at the age of seven as the incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-92) a great religious reformer and saint, who played a pivotal role in the revitalisation of Buddhism in Tibet. Perhaps Khyentse will bring humility, discipline and contemplation to the Croisette…

Talking in tongues

Is Al Clark the only Spanish-born, Scottish-educated, Australian-resident producer (married to an Australian-born Hungarian producer) in Cannes? Probably. In the festival for the first time since The Adventures Of Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert's triumphant screening in 1994, he is here for the world premiere of Siam Sunset in Critics' Week (first screening Saturday 15 May; 7.30pm Arcades I; 10:30pm Arcades II)

***

Quotes of the day

"Men haven't changed much as long as I have known them. Some of them are just as ignorant as ever and I think it's because they haven't been trained properly by their mothers" - Marianne Faithfull

"One of Stanley Kubrick's cats lived permanently upstairs in a climate-controlled temperature of 80 degrees. Each day, his Italian chauffeur brought in a tray full of fresh grass for the cat to roll in" - A friend of the late director