The Film: Two sisters come to terms with the end of the world in very different ways, as the planet Melancholia sets a collision course with Earth.

Why It Should Win: Lars von Trier's first "unhappy ending", it's no surprise that this is a bit of a downer. Nonetheless, it's a beautifully composed, often compelling (for the first hour at least) apocalypse movie that draws strong performances from the likes of Kirsten Dunst and Kiefer Sutherland.

True, it can't maintain the momentum through the ponderous last act and it's nowhere near as provocative as some of his other works (Antichrist, anyone?), but von Trier and Cannes go way back: he won the Palme d'Or for 2000's Dancer In The Dark and this is his ninth nomination.

Standout Scene: The opening montage - birds fall from the sky, Dunst floats down a stream and two worlds collide, all in sumptuous slo-mo.