Who's this puffing up La Croisette, trying desperately to arrive before the starting gun discharges? Why, it's Ken Loach. On Monday, just two days before Cannes kicked off, the great British director's new film, Route Irish, was announced as a late addition to those playing in competition.

Concerning former soldiers now working as contractors in Iraq, Route Irishis the third Loach project to compete for the Palme d'Or in just five years. He famously won top gong for The Wind That Shakes the Barleyin 2006. It seems that Ken had been prevaricating about entering the picture right up to the last moment.