Cannes Film Festival is an opportunity for industry insiders (and a few lucky hangers-on) to preview some of the year’s most anticipated films. The screenings of 2009 include Heath Ledger’s final onscreen appearance, a Quentin Tarantino nazi flick, and a visually stunning Pixar comedy.

Here are the films the South of France is buzzing about, some of which will battle it out for The Palm D’Or.

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Director Terry Gilliam’s tale of a traveling theater troupe has received much unpredicted build-up, due to the passing of Heath Ledger during production. Three A-list actors stepped in to fill his role: Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell. We’ll see it just to figure out how that plays out.

Inglourious Basterds

Cannes sweetheart Quentin Tarantino returns with a violent (surprising?) film set in WWII. Brad Pitt leads a group of American “basterds,” whose mission is to intimidate the Third Reich.

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