Nicole Kidman is set to grace the red carpet at the Cannes film festival later for the premiere of her new film Dogville.

The Oscar-winning star is being hotly tipped for this year's Best Actress prize.

In the film she plays a beautiful woman who arrives in the isolated township of Dogville in the Rocky Mountains.

She is on the run from gangsters and persuades the town folk to hide her - but their act of kindness comes at a price.

Dogville is the latest film from Danish director Lars Von Trier and is in competition for the Palme d'Or prize.

Kidman, 35, arrived in Cannes at the weekend, just days after Spanish actress Penélope Cruz made her exit.

Cruz, currently partner of Kidman's ex-husband Tom Cruise, arrived for the opening night premiere of her film FanFan La Tulipe.

Organisers ensured the pair would not bump into one another by tactfully scheduling their appearances five days apart.

Cruz's film is not in official competition so she has no chance to compete with Kidman for the Best Actress award.

And to make matters worse for Cruise, FanFan La Tulipe fell flat with the Cannes critics - while advance word has it that Dogville is another triumph for the Australian actress.

Source: Press Release