The Dardenne brothers' Golden Palm winner The Child will open the 10th anniversary edition of the SofiaInternational Film Festival (SIFF) on March 9.

Among theinternational filmmakers expected in the Bulgarian capital between March 9-19are Bent Hamer (Factotum),Craig Lucas (The Dying Gaul) Alexey Fedorchenko (First On The Moon), Volker Schloendorff (The TinDrum), Jan Cvitkovic(Gravehopping),Isabelle Stever (Gisela)and Karen Shakhnazarov (Rider Named Death).

An internationaljury headed by Russian critic Andrei Plakhov andincluding Irish flimmaker Lenny Abrahamson (Adam AndPaul), Holland Film's Claudia Landsberger andBulgarian director Nikolaj Volevwill determine the winner of the Stella Artois Awardfrom an Official Competition line-up including JannikJohansen's Murk, Josh Appignanesi' Song OfSongs, Aleksei German Jr'sGarpastum,David Lanzmann's Doo Wop and Sergei Stanojkovksi'sContact.

The festival'stenth anniversary will also be celebrated with Directors in Spotlight homages to the Dardenne brothers,Kim Ki-Duk and the films of the Monty Python troupe(in the presence of Terry Jones). Sir Alan Parker will be making his firstvisit to Bulgaria for a showcase of his most popular filmsthat includes the Bulgarian premiere of Famealong with an exhibition of his cartoons.

British actressVanessa Redgrave will also attend the festival toreceive the Sofia Award for Outstanding Achievements in Cinema and Theatre. Shewill attend the screenings of one of her latest films, James Ivory's The White Countess, as well as two filmsshe produced for her son Carlo Nero, TheFever and a documentary looking at the Russian /Chechneyanconflict entitled, Voices Of Dissent.