Anne Hathaway meets Godzilla: New project heads to Cannes

'Godzilla meets Lost in Translation' is the premise used to describe Anne Hathaway's new project Colossal. The film, one of many projects seekng backing at this year's Cannes festival, follows a strange connection that forms between her character Gloria and a giant lizard attacking Tokyo halfway across the world.

Directed by Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo, best known for his low budget sci-fi Timecrimes, the film will be on sale to foreign buyers at the festival which starts this week. Vigalondo has described this as his most adventerous script so far, and promises a challenging leading role for Hathaway.

Colossal joins a host of highly anticipated projects at this year's market, both a hunting ground for international film industries to snatch up future projects and a platform for new films to seek backing. 

A selection of new films from both established and new filmmakers are generating a considerable amount of market buzz this year, with some projects yet to even start filming. Here is a look at the most promising:

1. Untitled Beatles Documentary - Ron Howard

The Oscar-winning director returns to documentary filmmaking after 2013's Made In America with an authorised film about the Fab Four. Following their lives from Liverpool venues to global recognition, Howard traces the career of the band through to their final performance in San Francisco in 1966. 

2. Genius - Michael Grandage

Making his cinematic debut after a longstanding career in theatre, Grandage's Genius is based on the life of renowned book editor Max Perkins. Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Jude Law star. 

3. A Holygram for the King - Tom Tykwer

Tom Hanks stars in the latest feature from the director of Cloud Atlas and Run Lola Run. Hanks plays a failing businessman who travels to the Middle East in an attempt to rejuvinate his career. 

4. It's Only the End of the World - Xavier Dolan

Dolan is already a festival favourite; at just 26 he has showcased three films at Cannes, claiming the prestigious jury prize in 2014 for this fifth feature, Mommy. His latest film stars Vincent Cassel as a terminally ill writer, with Marion Cotillard and Léa Seydoux also on board. 

5. Nocturnal Animals - Tom Ford

The fashion designer-turned-director presents his second feature after 2009's A Single Man. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Amy Adams, the film follows their seperate stories, and is due for release in 2017.

Cannes festival runs from May 12 - 24