The Cannes film festival has opened a film-making facility, "Residence", which will be made available to a selection of young film-makers from around the world.

Those selected will be able to use the facility to work on their first or second features for four and a half months.

The CNC (Centre National de la Cinematographie), the French ministry of foreign affairs and several sponsors are backing the initiative.

A jury, chaired by French film-maker Olivier Assayas, has already selected a first group of six young directors - from the US, the UK, Finland and Hungary - some of which have already received awards, mainly for short films, in Cannes and other festivals.