MUNICH -- The Berlin International Film Festival on Tuesday named the first nine films in its lineup, including six competition entries that will make their world premieres at the February event.

Among the debuts will be the British-Canadian co-production "Snow Cake." The Marc Evans-helmed film stars Alan Rickman as a man traumatized by a car accident and Sigourney Weaver as an autistic woman who becomes his friend.

Also, Heath Ledger stars in the world premiere of the Australian film "Candy," directed by Neil Armfield. Ledger and Abbie Cornish play a young couple involved with drugs.

Two German entries chosen for competition also will have their world premieres. A star-studded cast that includes Franka Potente and Moritz Bleibtreu topline Oskar Roehler's adaptation of French author Michel Houellebecq's novel "The Elementary Particles."

"Requiem," directed by Hans-Christian Schmid, stars newcomer Sandra Hueller as a woman who believes she is possessed by demons.

Bosnian director Jasmila Zbanic's first feature, "Grbavica," also will debut at the festival. A co-production from Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany and Croatia, it tells of a rape victim in the turmoil following the war in the Balkans.

Thai director Ratanaruang Pen-ek's psychological thriller "Invisible Waves," a portrait of a contract killer, also will debut at the Berlinale.

Terrence Malick's "The New World" and Stephen Gaghan's "Syriana," starring and produced by George Clooney, will screen out of competition, as will the martial arts adventure "Wu ji" (The Promise), a $35 million production said to be the most expensive movie ever made in China.

Festival organizers said a total of 26 films will be screened in and out of competition at the festival. Selection of the remaining 17 films will be completed by next month.