The president of the jury of the 58th Venice International Film Festival, Italian director Nanni Moretti, poses near the golden lion logo during a photo call at the Venice Lido August 29, 2001. [REUTERS]

The Venice Film Festival is eager to lead the fight against "Hollywood imperialism" but its director freely admits you needall the glitz and glamour of the big stars to attract the crowds.

The world's oldest film festival prides itself on promoting cutting-edge and innovative movies but this stunning lagoon city also welcomes with open arms Hollywood superstars like Gene Hackman and Nicole Kidman.

After sifting through more than 900 films from around the world to make up his short-list, festival director Alberto Barbera readily agrees: "Yes, of course the Hollywood film industry is still very strong but at the same time there are a lot of countries reacting against this cultural imperialism."

"France is a good example," he told Reuters Television in an interview on the eve of the 2001 Festival opening. "In the past season, French films got more attention from the public than American films. There are a lot of other countries reacting against Hollywood imperialism."

France has always been fiercely protective of its film industry, fearing that a Tinseltown invasion would overwhelm it. But the French had cause for celebration this summer when the nostalgic movie "Amelie" took more at the French box office than "Pearl Harbour" and "The Mummy Returns".

(Agencies)