Agnes Jaoui's Comme Une Image will open this year'sVienna International Film Festival (Oct 15-27) which has programmed 298 filmsfrom 44 countries.

The Viennale's extensive programme includes Olivier Assayas'Clean, Jonathan Demme's The Manchurian Candidate, Cedric Kahn's FeuxRouges and Mark Mildgard's debut Dandelion.

There is also a tribute to Amos Vogel, the founder of thelegendary New York film club Cinema 16, as well as special programmes dedicatedto the filmmakers Koreeda Hirokazu, Jean-Pierre Gorin and the directorial duoDaniele Huillet and Jean-Marie Straub.

In addition, a special Gala screening of Howard Hawks' TheBig Sleep will be held on October 24 for Hollywood veteran Lauren Bacallwho is the Viennale's Guest of Honour this year. Ten of her most outstandingand significant films - from Hawks' 1944 film To Have And To Have Not toRobert Altman's 1979 production H.E.A.L.T.H. - will be presented as aspecial homage.

The Viennale will close with a gala screening of MichaelMayer's A Home At The End Of The World when the winners of the FIPRESCIPrize, Vienna Film Prize and Der Standard Audience Award will be announced.