Why so many 2009 movies with unknown actors????!!

Why is this?? Whenever I read the credits I think its a foreign movie like from the UK , England or something than get the shock of my life when I see its from America! Can anybody be a director & cut a movie now? Or is it like my friend said, with DVDs and so many competing for acting roles, anything goes, they dont have to have talent anymore?!

'My goal is to be as nice as my pets think I am'