CANNES (Hollywood Reporter) - As the Cannes Film Festival pulls into its closing weekend, the Directors' Fortnight sidebar is basking in the glow of arguably its best edition for years.

The event has boasted several of the standout films at the festival, including the South Korean monster movie "The Host," the French-Arabic family cartoon "Azur and Asmar," and the Danish animated anti-porn parable "Princess."

Many on the Croisette consider that the Fortnight has come up with the most exciting selection in town. "Absolutely," one French critic said. "It's the most coherent selection. The films seem to respond to one another, or tackle similar issues from different viewpoints." Audiences have been flocking to screenings at the sidebar's main theater in the Hilton Hotel, and some films have received rapturous receptions.

"I'm very satisfied with the result," said Directors' Fortnight head Olivier Pere, who is overseeing his third lineup. "This year has been really good and is exemplary of what the Fortnight can do. There are lots of first films, a wide mix of countries, and some surprises with the more experimental titles."

Whereas official selection artistic director Thierry Fremaux has to perform an elaborate juggling act balancing artistic, political and diplomatic criteria (including the obligation to find world premieres), Pere is able to program pretty much according to whim. "After three years, I felt free to take some more risks. These are very personal choices, and the success is obviously down to the films," Pere said.

"He's got taste," said Paolo Branco of Gemini Films, who is selling Christophe Honore's "Dans Paris" (In Paris), which screened Thursday in the Fortnight. "It's a great lineup. He takes whatever he wants and doesn't care who made it."

The opening night animated film "Princess" from Dane Anders Morgenthaler set the provocative tone, sparking major interest from buyers, notably Tartan, which acquired the film for the U.S. and U.K. Among other titles from the sidebar that have sold well are Kim Rossi Stuart's debut, the Italian family drama "Anche Libero Va Bene" (Free Is Fine Too) and the light Parisian comedy "Changement d'adresse" (Change of Address) directed by France's Emmanuel Mouret.

Pere acknowledges that Directors' Fortnight benefited from some films that could easily have found Competition slots, citing the dazzling Oriental tale "Azur" from French animator Michel Ocelot, which earned a rave review in The Hollywood Reporter, "Jindabyne" from Australia's Ray Lawrence, and Korea's "The Host" from Bong Joon Ho. Continued...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush admitted on Thursday that his bellicose "bring 'em on" taunt to Iraqi insurgents was a big mistake, as he and British Prime Minister Tony Blair carefully avoided setting a timetable for removing troops from Iraq.

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