Brad Pitt can't attend Cannes because of baby's birth

Pitt sent an e-mail to the Cannes Film Festival to wish the cast of his new film Babel luck, saying he was unable to attend the festival.

Pitt sent an e-mail to the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday to wish the cast of his new film

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Babel

luck, saying he was unable to attend because of the imminent birth of his baby.

In

Babel

, directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Pitt plays a husband and father trying to cope with a crisis on vacation in Morocco. Cate Blanchett plays Pitt's wife, and the film also stars Gael Garcia Bernal.

Henri Behar, who moderates Cannes' news conferences, read a message from Pitt, who has been holed up in Namibia with Angelina Jolie awaiting the birth of their child.

"With the imminent arrival of the newest addition to our family, I am unable to join Alejandro, Cate, Gael and the rest of the cast and crew in introducing the film," Pitt said in the message. "I am tremendously proud of Babel and want to congratulate everyone involved for this great achievement."