Tom Tykwer's period thriller Perfume: Story Of A Murderer starring Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman and AlanRickman will open the 7th Santa Fe Film Festival on Dec 6.

Miss Potter starringRenee Zellweger is the centerpiece gala screening on Dec 8 and the event closeson Dec 10 with Roger Michell's Venusstarring Peter O'Toole.

The prestigious roster of galas includes The Painted Veil and Volver, and there are special presentations of Guillermo Del Toro's Mexicanforeign language Oscar submission Pan's Labyrinth and The Polish Brother's The AstronautFarmer.

All in all the festival will showcase nearly 200 films ineight programmes and award prizes in 12 categories, including a new editingaward in honour of the late Suzanne Pettit, a Santa Fe resident whose creditsincluded Testament and NightMother.

Luminaria Awards recipients for lifetime achievement arecinematographer Laszlo Kovacs and film-maker Gregory Nava, who will collecttheir honours at the festival's Milagro Awards Ceremony on Dec 9.

"Every season always brings special moments totreasure, but I can't recall another year where we've assembled a line-up thisexciting," festival executive director Jon Bowman said.

For the first time festival organisers have partnered withNational Geographic's All Road's Film Project to showcase 35 films fromindigenous artists from around the world.

For more details visit the official website at www.santafefilmfestival.com.