Darshan - The Embrace, a film on the life of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, popularly known as Amma, has been officially selected for showcasing at the prestigious 2005 Cannes [Images] Film Festival.

The film has been directed by Jan Kounen, an award-winning film-maker based in France [Images], and produced by Manuel De La Roche of France.

• French film on Mata Amritanandamayi

The film festival, now in its 58th year, will screen the film on May 18 at 10.15 pm.

Jan Kounen and his crew began shooting for the film in 2003 during Amma's 50th birthday celebrations in Kochi.

Later, Kounen and his team travelled with Amma on her Indian and international tours in order to complete the film.

Jan Kounen has several feature films to his credit, including Blueberry (2003), a mystical western that starred Vincent Cassel, Juliette Lewis and Michael Madsen.