Female directors seize the limelight at Cannes film festival

The influential British film director, Andrea Arnold, is one of three women competing for the Palme d’Or.

This year four of the nine Palme d’Or judges are women: Kirsten Dunst, Vanessa Paradis, Valeria Golino, an Italian actress and film director, and Iranian film producer Katayoon Shahabi.

Yet when the 69th festival gets under way on the legendary Croisette there should be a better gender balance on display.