The Cannes Film Festival has announced thelatest group to make up its bi-annual Residence program. Director Bruno Dumontwas charged with heading up the jury to select the six directors who will takepart in the 12th Residence session beginning February 28, 2006.

Over four months, filmmakers working on theirfirst or second feature will spend time in Paris developing the projects and meetingwith local industries and talent.

The six directors are Pablo Agueroand Lucia Puenzo both from Argentina, Amat Escalante from Mexico whose Sangreran in Un Certain Regard this year, Abay Kulbayev of Kazakhstan, Kit Huiof the US whose Missing was a Cannes Festival short film competitor andVenezuela's Marianela Maldonado who also has a trackrecord with the festival having been selected by the 2002 Cinefondationfor her short, TheLook Of Happiness.