This year's Cannes Film Festival pits leading names including Ken Loach and Pedro Almodovar against each other in competition for the top prize, the Palme d'Or.
The two festival veterans, as well as the Dardenne brothers, Jim Jarmusch, Terrence Malick and Xavier Dolan — all former winners at the French Riviera festival — will return for the May 14-25 event.
Four female directors were among the 19 nominated in the main category. They are Jessica Hausner for Little Joe, Mati Diop for Atlantiques, Celine Schiamma for Portrait of a Young Lady on Fire and Justine Triet for Sibyl.
The last time four women were nominated, in 2011, set a record at Cannes. Last year, organisers pledged to raise the prominence of female filmmakers at festivals. This year 13 were included in the official selection — although male artists still dominate.
Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die, a zombie comedy starring Adam Driver, Bill Murray and Chloe Sevigny as police officers protecting a small town, will open the festival on a starry and surreal note.
