CANNES (AFP) - The Cannes film festival kicks off its 70th edition on Wednesday with A-listers including Nicole Kidman, Clint Eastwood and Will Smith jetting in for the 12-day movie marathon.

The gathering on the southern French coast, where 19 films will be vying for the coveted Palme d'Or top prize and hundreds more will be screened, also comes with a higher security status than in previous years.

Ten months after a truck attack in nearby Nice killed 86 people, concrete barriers - in the form of giant flower pots - have been set up to block any similar assault.

Snipers have been positioned around sensitive sites.

Mr Patrick Mairesse, a top regional security official, said the objective was to be as "invisible as possible, to cause as little nuisance as possible - so the party can stay a party".

But unprecedented numbers of police and soldiers have been deployed and a French warship lies at anchor off the beach.

France remains under a state of emergency following the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris.

Despite the tough measures, glamour reigns on the palm-fringed Croisette promenade along the glittering Mediterranean coast.

Hardcore fans started setting up stepladders outside the Palais des Festivals venue a full 24 hours early, hoping for selfies as their favourite stars head down the red carpet.

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar will be leading the competition jury, which also includes Smith, Jessica Chastain and Chinese actress Fan Bingbing.