The Cannes film festival is undoubtedly a prominent fixture in the film industry. But underneath all of the glitz and glam it offers up, the festival is a showcase for talent, which is why it is important women are fairly represented at it.

So, you’ll be happy to hear the news that this year’s full competition jury line-up has been announced and for the first time since 2014, it’ll host a female-majority line-up.

The jury, headed up by Cate Blanchett, will feature A Wrinkle in Time director Ava DuVernay and actress Kristen Stewart, along with French actress Léa Seydoux and musician Khadja Nin. And directors Denis Villeneuve and Chang Chen, and French film-maker Robert Guédiguian and director Andrey Zvyagintsev.

The announcement comes after the festival drew heavy criticism for its lack of female directors in official competition this year. Only three of 17 films up for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, have been made by women.

And the major change is down to actress Jessica Chastain. While serving on the festival’s jury in France in 2017, Chastain challenged the industry’s lack of female representation.

“I do hope that when we include more female storytellers we will have more of the kinds of women that I recognise in my day-to-day life,” Chastain said. “Ones that are proactive, have their own agencies, don’t just react to the men around them, they have their own point of view.”

Cannes film festival announces a female-majority jury