At the customary press conference involving the Cannes Film Festival jury chief and his panel, one journalist asked why Bollywood wasn't represented either among the jurors or in the official selection.

Don't we know? The question obviously foxed jury chairman Wong Kar-Wai. He fumbled in an attempt to formulate an answer when the moderator of the press conference stepped in to point out that the composition of the jury hadn't been decided by the Hong Kong filmmaker.

Another reporter, obviously unaware of the director's global stature, wondered why Kar-Wai had been chosen to preside over the jury. The moderator shot back, more than a little irritated: "Aren't all the great films that Wong Kar-Wai has directed enough to earn him the honour?"

He then delivered the knockout punch. "Well, he is here because Fellini is dead and Bergman is too old to make the trip to Cannes."

One thing is for sure, no Cannes Film Festival press meet is ever a completely dull affair.