Starting today and for nine days, San Sebastian will be the world capital of cinema. The festival is projecting a grand total of 202 films, 17 of which are in the official competition. Among these are Atom Egoyan with Chloe which is opening the official section and Mother and Child , produced by Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, the film selected to close it.

But all attention today is focused on Brad Pitt. The American actor will walk the red carpet with Quentin Tarantino to present Inglorious Basterds , without a doubt a central theme of the Festival.

However, Brad Pitt won’t be the only star attending. Among the visitors to the Kursaal will be Robert Duvall, Naomi Watts, Ricardo Darin, Carmen Machi, Lola Dueñas, Luis Tosar and Ariadna Gil.

In total, 17 titles are competing for the Golden Shell Award, of which three are Spanish: Los condenados [The Condemned or The Damned ] by Isaki Lacuesta, La mujer sin piano by Javier Rebollo, and Yo, tambien by Alvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro.

At this edition, among the most attractive sections apart from the official selection will no doubt be Zabaltegui Pearls, where there will not only be both the latest by Tarantino and by Woody Allen, but also one will be able to see The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus by Terry Gilliam, in which an impressive list of actors are substituting for the deceased Heath Ledger.