Ceylan’s new film to compete at Cannes

A record six women directors will compete for the Palme d'Or at Cannes in May, organizers announced on April 13, with the film festival promising a who's who of Hollywood A-listers and award-winning filmmakers.

Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan will once compete for the main prize in the festival with his latest film "Kuru Otlar Üstüne" (About Dry Grasses), nine years after winning the award in 2014 for his "Kış Uykusu" (Winter Sleep).

Written by director Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan and Akın Aksu, "About Dry Grasses" comes after five years by his film "Ahlat Ağacı" (Wild Pear Tree).

Starring Merve Dizdar, Musab Ekici and Deniz Celiloğlu, the film features a young teacher, Samet, who is doing his compulsory service in a remote village in Anatolia, and meets Nuray during pessimistic days when waiting to return to Istanbul.

The world's top cinema shindig had already secured some glitzy Hollywood premieres, including the new Indiana Jones and Martin Scorsese movies, as well as Johnny Depp's comeback film.

Among the 19 films competing for the top prize Palme d'Or from May 16 to 27 is Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City," which alone will bring a cavalcade of stars to the red carpet, including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson.

The presence of six women directors, including Italy's Alice Rohrwacher and Austria's Jessica Hausner, beats last year's record of five.

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are expected for "May December" from director Todd Haynes, who wowed Cannes with lesbian drama "Carol" in 2015 starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, the latter winning the best actress award.

A fiery start is guaranteed thanks to opening night film "Jeanne du Barry", which sees Depp play French king Louis XV in his...