Cannes 2016: first film announced is Jodie Foster and George Clooney's 'Money Monster'

The thriller reunites Clooney with his Ocean's Eleven co-star Julia Roberts

Money Monster stars George Clooney as TV host Lee Gates

With both Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals out of the way for another year, the next one in line poised to introduce the world to next year's awards favourites is Cannes.

Scheduled to begin in May, the film festival has just announced the first film that'll play its 69th year is thriller Money Monster.

Directed by Jodie Foster, the film stars George Clooney as a presenter whose money-oriented live TV show is interrupted when he’s taken hostage by a blue-collar worker (Jack O’Connell) compelled to turn to violence following his recent financial losses.

Revealing he's strapped to a bomb, it’s down to the show’s producer - played by Clooney’s Ocean’s Eleven co-star Julia Roberts - to talk host Lee Gates, referred to in the film as ‘The Wizard of Wall Street’, through the life-threatening situation.

Money Monster marks Foster's return to Cannes after her Mel Gibson-starring directorial effort The Beaver screened out-of-competition in 2011; it will play at Cannes on 11 May.

This year's opening night premiere has not yet been announced - previous films to have opened the festival include the critically-acclaimed Midnight in Paris and the derided Grace of Monaco.

The filmmaker presiding over this year's competition jury is Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller.

Money Monster, released in the UK on 27 May, co-stars Dominic West and Caitriona Balfe (TV’s Outlander) and is produced by the team behind Oscar-winners Up in the Air and Argo. Bruce Springsteen provides the soundtrack.

The 69th Cannes Film Festival will run from 11-22 May.