Winterbottom to Direct Thriller
Michael Winterbottom's films leap across genres. In just the last three years, he's directed a tongue-in-cheek adaption of the unadaptable novel Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, the docudrama Road to Guantanamo and the high-profile A Mighty Heart, starring Angelina Jolie as Mariane Pearl (pictured above), which just premiered out of competition at Cannes. The English filmmaker has recently announced his latest project, Genova. The screenplay, written by Winterbottom and Laurence Coriat (who also collaborated on A Mighty Heart), is a horror thriller about two American girls and their British father who move to the Italian city of Genoa after their mother dies. Colin Firth, Hope Davis and Catherine Keener will co-star.

Polley Does Highsmith
Sarah Polley's Away From Her recently opened to rave reviews, and the actress-turned-filmmaker is currently serving time on the Cannes jury, savoring the chance to watch films rather than promote her own. In Polley's immediate future are two new acting projects: the HBO miniseries John Adams with Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti, and Cry of the Owl, an adaptation of the novel by Patricia Highsmith. Polley will play a woman who falls in love with her stalker (Patty Considine).

Tautou Plays Fashion Icon
France's favorite pixie also has her next projected lined up. Audrey Tautou (of Amelie fame and The Da Vinci Code shame) will portray Coco Chanel in a new film by French director Anne Fontaine.