After his explorations of male sexuality, most recently in Bad Education, Pedro Almodóvar is planning to return to women-centred comedies with his next film, Volver, which will star Penelope Cruz and Chus Lampreave, a regular actress in his movies.

In Rome last weekend for the Italian film awards, the Nastro d'Argento, where Bad Education was voted best foreign film, Almodóvar described Volver (literally meaning to come back) as a "generational story about three women - a grandmother, a daughter and a granddaughter". The story, which involves tango and ghosts, takes place in Madrid and in the director's native La Mancha. "I'm not saying it will be 100% comedy," Almodóvar said, "but it will definitely have a lighter and funnier tone."

Meanwhile, Gianni Amelio, who visits the Dublin festival next week, took the top prize in the Nastro d'Argento awards for his new film, The Keys to the House.