The second instalment of the Copenhagen International FilmFestival (Aug 19-29) has announced its competition programme - one that lookslike an improvement from last year and showcases more first time filmmakers.

Two local films, newcomer Nikolaj Arcel's highly anticipatedpolitical thriller Kings Game, which has its world premiere in Locarno,and veteran Jytte Rex's experimental The Silk Road will compete against10 international features from all ends of Europe.

The commercially and critically well received Subway-likedebut from Hungarian talent Antal Nimrod, Control (Kontroll), grabbeddeserved attention after screening in Un Certain Regard at Cannes, is upagainst Belgian feature debutant Benoît Delepine's wheelchair roadmovie Aaltraand Dear Frankie from the UK's Shona Auerbach. Both have generatedstrong buzz in their home territories.

Swedish newcomer Terese Fabrik also enters the competitionwith her local box-office hit The Ketchup Effect (Hip Hip Hora). Italianactor Sergio Castellitto's second film as director, Don't Move (Non TiMuovere) has also been a local hit not least because of Penelope Cruzperformance. Like Iciar Bollain's domestic abuse drama Take My Eyes (Te DoyMis Ojos), it has picked up a number of local film awards.

Brad Anderson's Christian Bale-starring thriller TheMachinist and German Achim von Borries' second film, Love In Thoughts(Was Nuetzt Die Liebe In Gedanken) both screened at Sundance and Berlin.Lidija Bobrova's Russian film The Granny (Babusya) won three awards lastyear in Karlovy Vary including the Special Prize of The Jury, and Ivan Fila'sSlovak feature King Of Thieves (Kral Zlodejov) screened in Moscow.

The Copenhagen International Film Festival will announce itsfull programme on Aug 1, but promises a trimmer line-up of 100 films. Thefestival opens with the premiere of Walter Salles' Motorcycle Diaries,and at the closing ceremony on Aug 28, the Golden Swan is presented to the bestfilm, best director, best script and best cinematography as well as best actorand actress.

Hungarian director Istvan Szabo heads the competition juryof Scottish director David Mackenzie (Young Adam), French actor-directorJean Marc Barr and Rumanian actress Maia Morgenstern (The Passion Of TheChrist) as well as the popular local actress turned filmmaker Paprika Steen(Aftermath).

After this year's event the festival will again be lookingfor a new head of programming, as Lone Korslund earlier this year washeadhunted by Nordisk Film as Hanne Palmquist's replacement as Nordic AcquisitionManager. It is the second time the festival has to choose a new head ofprogramming.

Full list of competition films:
Aaltra, Belgium, 2004, Benoît Delepine
Dear Frankie, UK, 2004, Shona Auerbach
Don't Move, (Non ti Muovere) Italy, 2004, Sergio Castellitto
The Granny, (Babusya) Russia, 2003, Lidija Bobrova
The Ketchup Effect, (Hip Hip Hora) Sweden, 2004, Teresa Fabik
King Of Thieves, (Kral Zlodejov) Slovak Republic, 2004, Ivan Fila
Kings Game (Kongekabale), Denmark, 2004, Nikolaj Arcel
Kontroll, Hungary, 2003, Nimrod Antal
Love in Thoughts, (Was nützt die Liebe in Gedanken) Germany, 2004,Achim von Borries
The Machinist, Spain, 2004, Brad Anderson
Take My Eyes, (Te Doy mis Ojos) Spain, 2003, Iciar Bollain
The Silk Road (Silkevejen), Denmark, 2004, Jytte Rex