American actor and director Woody Allen has said he will attend the Cannes Film Festival for the first time this year, to present his new film "Hollywood Ending."
Allen, who normally shuns award shows has said the French people have been so supportive and so nice to him over the years that he wanted to give something back by attending the festival in person. Several of Allen's past films have been shown at the competition.
The 67-year old Allen, who made a rare appearance at the Oscars in Los Angeles last month, will make his presentation on May 15 at the opening of the 55th annual Cannes festival.
"Hollywood Ending" tells the story of a movie director who gets a chance to make his first movie in many years - and then goes blind before he completes the film.
The movie is not competing for prizes.