Shortlisted for the Prix Louis Delluc are three Cannes films L'Adversaire, La Chatte A Deux Tetes and documentary Etre Et Avoir. But there is no place for France's Oscar hopeful 8 Femmes.

A jury of critics and film personalities announced their candidates for this year's Louis Delluc prize late last week. The award, which will be handed out on December 11 at Paris' Fouquet's restaurant, is one of France's highest honours for film.

On this year's shortlist are: Cannes competition film L'Adversaire, the critically acclaimed tale of a man living a double life with horrific consequences directed by Nicole Garcia; a three-sided love story which played in Un Certain Regard at Cannes this year, La Chatte A Deux Tetes by Jacques Nolot; Nicolas Philibert's Etre Et Avoir, comedies Lundi Matin by Otar Iosseliani, Les Naufrages De La D17 by Luc Moullet and Mischka by Jean-Francois Stevenin; Alain Cavalier's drama Rene; Le Stade De Wimbledon by Mathieu Amalric who also acted in Iosseliani's competing film and Vendredi Soir, the story of a chance meeting by Claire Denis.

Francois Ozon 8 Femmes is not the only high profile absentee, Michel Blanc's local favorite Embrassez Qui Vous Voudrez also did not make the cut.

The Louis Delluc prize was created in 1937 by Maurice Bessy in the name of Louis Delluc, a filmmaker and writer who was among the first of France's distinguished film critics.

Last year's prize went to Patrice Chereau for his controversial Intimacy.