Late actor Heath Ledger took a final bow at the Cannes Film Festival, when, at the end of the weekend screening of his final film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, a dedication read “A film from Heath Ledger and friends.”

Director Terry Gilliam said that Heath practically co-directed the film. “Heath was just brilliant at it. He got everybody else going. Everybody was just energized by Heath,” he said. “He was extraordinary. He was almost exhausting because he had so much energy.”

After Heath’s sudden death in January 2008, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, and Johnny Depp stepped up to finish the role left by the Australian actor. [Photo: Getty Images]

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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Heath Ledger’s last film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, will make its world debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 22nd.

Heath was in the middle of filming the story of the traveling carnival when he suddenly died in January of last year. Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell volunteered to finish Heath’s role, and each gave their salaries to Heath’s daughter Matilda.

The fantasy film is about a traveling show where members of the audience must choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom.

This year Heath won an Oscar posthumously for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight, which his family accepted on his behalf and dedicated to Matilda. [Source: Hollywood Reporter; Photo: Getty Images]