South Africa's Department of Arts and Culture and National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) is preparing for a very special Cannes Film Festival this year - after enjoying successful profiles at both Rotterdam and Berlin.

This year's Cannes will feature a special focus on South Africa, celebrating its ten years of democracy.

Ex-President Nelson Mandela has been invited by Cannes president Gilles Jacob to officially open the festival, and the NFVF is currently liaising with Mandela's office for final confirmation.

Jacob also extended an invitation for a one-minute film to be presented at the festival, to play prior to the opening film. The film is to show South Africa's transition from Apartheid to Democracy.

The NFVF has made a call to the industry for proposals for the one-minute film, applications have been received, they have been sent to an independent panel for evaluation and it hopes to have a decision by the end of February.