As earlier reported, Natalie is one of this year’s jury members at the Cannes Film Festival, which opened yesterday, on May 14. There’s tons of media coverage available of her first appearances at the event, and here’s our first batch of photos. Expect many, many more medium- and hi-res photos later this week - I’m running out of battery here so this is all for today.

And may I just add Natalie looks absolutely phenomenal in these photos! What a style chameleon she is.

New Photo Albums:

• 2008 Cannes Film Festival Arrival on May 13
• 2008 Cannes Film Festival Opening Ceremony on May 14
• 2008 Cannes Film Festival Photocall and Press Conference on May 14

Aww. Many news sources report Natalie has pulled out of the upcoming remake of Wuthering Heights due to scheduling conflicts (suggesting she has another, as of yet untitled movie project lined up). From MovieWeb:

Natalie Portman will no longer be a part of the latest adaptation of a Charlotte Bronte classic. According to Variety, Portman has exited the new film version of Wuthering Heights. Portman cited a scheduling conflict with an un-announced project she had committed to, according to her publicist.

Wuthering Heights is still moving forward with John Maybury directing from Olivia Hetreed’s script. It isn’t quite clear yet who will fill in for Portman for the role of Cathy.

Naturally, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more news on that “un-announced project she has committed to.”

It took a lifetime for this issue to reach my country, but it has done so at last. Here are our hi-res scans of Natalie’s Elle (US) April 2008 issue. Personally, although beautiful, I’m not too impressed with the shoot, it’s not particularly imaginative. Natalie looks absolutely beautiful, as always, though.

New Photo Albums:

• ‘Elle’ (US) April 2008 Scans

The first hi-res photos of Natalie directing a segment for New York, I Love You have surfaced online! She was spotted in appropriate directing gear in New York on April 29.

New York, I Love You is a compilation of love stories set in New York, and is a sequel of sorts to Paris, je t’aime (2006), in which Natalie also starred. New York, I Love You will mark Natalie’s writing and directing debut, and should be one of her most interesting projects to date.

New & Updated Photo Albums:

• ‘The Country Girl’ Broadway Opening Night on Apr 22
• On Set ‘New York, I Love You’ on Apr 29

On April 22, Natalie was spotted at the Broadway opening night of The Country Girl in New York, looking absolutely lovely as always. The first 12 medium- and hi-res photos of her at the event have been added to the gallery. Enjoy!

New Photo Albums:

• ‘The Country Girl’ Broadway Opening Night on Apr 22

Several news sources (e.g. Kentucky.com, Associated Press) are reporting Natalie was seen at the Tribeca Film Festival I Am Because We Are premiere in New York on April 24. However, I haven’t been able to find any photos of her there — please drop me a line if you can point me to the direction of some or can send some in! Thank you. From Associated Press:

Madonna’s harrowing new documentary on Malawi is clearly designed to draw attention to the poverty-stricken nation’s plight and help to its people. But the superstar doesn’t think much about enlisting aid from the U.S. government.

“I don’t know what our government does period, instead of getting us in more debt and blowing up countries,” she told the audience at the Tribeca Film Festival after premiering the film I Am Because We Are on Thursday night. The packed audience included close friend Rosie O’Donnell and Natalie Portman.

Exciting news, y’all! Natalie has been confirmed as one of the Feature Film jury members at the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival! Congratulations to Natalie for this tremendous honor!

Of course, this means Natalie will be attending the festival (=new public appearance photos!). The film festival will take place on May 14-25 2008 in Cannes, France.

Variety (which is generally a reliable movie news source) makes a brief mention of Natalie’s New York, I Love You directorial debut in a recent Carlos Acosta-related article:

Acosta is currently filming in a segment of the movie New York I Love You directed by Natalie Portman.