Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie admitted they were unsure of the title of their new film which was due for its red-carpet premiere at Cannes later on Tuesday.

The picture was listed in the festival catalogue as 'Changeling' but reporters received a press release from Universal Pictures Monday saying that the title had been altered to 'The Exchange'.

When Eastwood, who directed and co-produced the film, and the picture's star Jolie were asked at a news conference about the change in title, both said they were unaware of any switch.

"It was originally 'Changeling' and then in France, it is 'L'Echange' which sounds lovely," Jolie said.

She said she thought the title had been altered in French because there was no suitable translation for 'Changeling'.

But when a moderator informed her of the Universal statement on the modification of the original title, Jolie and Eastwood shrugged.

"That's news to us," she said.

The film is based on the true story of Christine Collins, a single mother in 1920s California whose son Walter is kidnapped.

Months later, the authorities turn up with a boy they claim is Walter but Collins is convinced he is not her missing son.

When the corrupt and incompetent Los Angeles Police Department refuses to reopen the case, Collins embarks on a public campaign to learn her son's fate.

Eastwood picked up on a line of questioning at the post-screening press conference about the elusive nature of truth when asked about the Universal press release.

"It's in writing, but is it the truth?" he joked.

AFP