Oliver Stone takes "Center" stage at Cannes

CANNES - Oliver Stone's past and future were on display at the Cannes Film Festival, as organizers screened the director's Oscar-winning war drama "Platoon" as well as 20 minutes of footage from his new film "World Trade Center."

The "Platoon" screening precedes the film's May 30 release as a digitally remastered DVD. Meanwhile, "World Trade Center" will open across North America on August 9 via Paramount; it will arrive in France in September.

Before the dual-purpose screening began Sunday, Stone was welcomed to the stage at the Debussy Theater -- along with "Platoon" stars Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger and Charlie Sheen -- by festival director Thierry Fremaux. Stone cautioned that the footage -- essentially the first act of his film about events in New York on September 11, 2001 -- was "a work in progress."

"It's a true story about two Port Authority policemen trapped in the rubble and their incredible, improbable rescue efforts to save others," the director said. "It's been my struggle for 20 years to try and make these stories about people who really see with our eyes and ears. History was shaped by the collective memory of the men and women who saw the truth. It must exist in the same way on film to confront power and extremism."

Reaction to the "Center" footage appeared enthusiastic: The film's opening scenes proved intense and dramatic, presenting Nicolas Cage as a grizzled Port Authority captain leading his team downtown to rescue people trapped inside Tower One of the World Trade Center. The rescuers, in turn, are trapped when the tower collapses on them.

Earlier at a cocktail party, Stone recalled that "Platoon" was a low-budget film. "It was a tough shoot in 1986 in the Philippines, 55 days in the jungle," he said. "It was a little release in December by Orion. We had our fingers crossed, and the film took off by its own self, like a raging wildfire. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life." He won the Academy Award for directing the film.

Stone called forward Berenger and Dafoe to take a bow, adding, "Charlie Sheen should be here shortly when he's finished with his extracurricular activities." Sheen immediately pushed his way through the crowd and apologized for being late.