JODIE FOSTER's new film has been rejected by the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL - as payback for the actress bailing out of a prestigious judging gig at the fest.

THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS, a drama with Foster about students at a 1974 Georgia parochial school who draw an obscene comic book, was widely expected to premiere at this year's (01) festival.

But it was conspicuously absent from the list of films - an unusually large number of them from America - released yesterday (19APR01) in Paris.

Industry experts say the French were aghast after the actress accepted the presidency of the festival's jury in January (01) - then abruptly dropped out only three weeks later to replace an injured NICOLE KIDMAN in PANIC ROOM, the (2001).

One knowledgeable source says, "The French considered offering the position to Foster as an olive branch to the Hollywood studios, who have been reluctant to show films in Cannes in recent years. "They were really insulted when she backed out, even if it was to accept a $12 million (£8million) acting gig. So they ditched her film." (NFA/WNWCPS/ES)

Source: WENN