Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

- Photos and text from wire services

auteurs Pedro Almodóvar, Terrence Malick and the Dardennes brothers. Also of interest will be the debut from Mati Diop, “Atlantique,” which marks the first black female filmmaker in competitio­n in Cannes.

Last year’s Cannes saw 82 women, which represente­d the number of women directors to ever appear in competitio­n in Cannes, protest for gender inequality on the festival’s famed red carpet steps. Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux signed a pledge promising to make the festival’s selection process more transparen­t and to push executive boards toward gender parity.

This year, there are four women in Cannes’ 21-film main slate, tying the festival’s previous high in 2011. For the first time, Cannes has revealed gender-based statistics on its submission­s and selections, a measure of transparen­cy that had been requested by 50/50X2020, the French sister group of Time’s Up. Frémaux on Tuesday defended the festival’s record, bristling at critics who have said Cannes isn’t progressin­g quickly enough.

“I’m looking forward to time when we come and we don’t have to say ‘the women directors’ and ‘as a woman,’” said juror member Kelly Riechart, the “Wendy and Lucy” filmmaker and a jury member

 ?? PHOTO BY ARTHUR MOLA — INVISION — AP ?? Actress Selena Gomez, right, shares a joke with actor Bill Murray upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘The Dead Don’t Die’ at the 72nd internatio­nal film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday.
PHOTO BY ARTHUR MOLA — INVISION — AP Actress Selena Gomez, right, shares a joke with actor Bill Murray upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘The Dead Don’t Die’ at the 72nd internatio­nal film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday.

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