PARIS (AFP) - Movies by David Cronenberg, Jean-Luc Godard, Mike Leigh and Ken Loach are among the films selected to compete for the top Palme d'Or prize at next month's Cannes Film Festival, organisers said on Thursday.

Just 18 films of the more than 1,700 submitted have been rewarded with a slot in the competition shortlist, which was unveiled in Paris by festival artistic director Thierry Fremaux.

Cronenberg's Maps To The Stars, Godard's Adieu au Langage, Leigh's Mr Turner and Loach's Jimmy's Hall will all be in competition at the May 14-25 movie extravaganza on the French Riviera.

Other films in competition include The Homesman by Tommy Lee Jones, The Search by Michel Hazanavicius, Captives by Atom Egoyan, Saint Laurent by Bertrand Bonello, Sils Maria by Olivier Assayas and Deux jours, une nuit by the Dardenne brothers.

Held almost every year since 1946, the festival is famed as much for launching the careers of filmmakers such as Steven Soderbergh and Quentin Tarantino as for its glitzy red carpet photo calls, luxury yachts, star-studded parties and diamond heists.