Cannes Film Festival has taken another step in its rapprochement with the German film industry by the naming of Berlin film journalist Christiane Peitz as the festival's new national correspondent to succeed Hans-Dieter Seidel.

Peitz, who works for the arts pages of Berlin-based daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, will work closely with Cannes artistic director Thierry Fremaux and serve as the contact person for all German producers and directors wanting to submit films to the official competition selection committee in Paris.

The appointment of Peitz should be seen in the light of the statements made by Fremaux on his visit to Munich in July when he met representatives of the German film industry, including FFA president Eberhard Junkersdorf and Berlin International Film Festival's new director Dieter Kosslick, and expressesd the intention to improve the festival's links with Germany.