The 68th Cannes Film Festival started this year with female director Emmanuelle Bercot's "Standing Tall", shunning the usual practice of screening of a Hollywood movie.
The film about a juvenile delinquent co-starring Catherine Deneuve, is only the second movie directed by a woman to open Cannes.
A total of 19 films are competing for the Golden Palm awards.
The main competition jury is chaired by directors Joel and Ethan Coen, who are assisted in the decision-making by actress Rossy de Palma, actress-director Sophie Marceau, actress Sienna Miller, songwriter, composer and singer Rokia Traore, director, screenwriter and producer Guillermo del Toro, Xavier Dolan and actor Jake Gyllenhaal.
Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett and Matthew McConaughey are expected to appear during the 12-day event.
Director Agnes Varda, who made her name during the French New Wave of the 1960s, will become the first woman to receive an honorary Palme d'Or.
Portman, meanwhile, is presenting a special screening of her feature directorial debut, "A Tale of Love and Darkness", about the early years of Israel. Hotly anticipated titles this year include a new film version of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", starring Michael Fassbender in the title role.
Also included in the competition line-up is Todd Haynes' "Carol", in which Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara play lesbian lovers in 1950s New York.
Films screening out of competition include Woody Allen's latest, "Irrational Man", and "Amy", a documentary about Amy Winehouse that has been called "misleading" by the late singer's father. "Mad Max: Fury Road" will also have a special screening.
India will be represented by Neeraj Ghaywan's "Masaan" and Gurvinder Singh's "Chauthi Koot", which will screen in the Un Certain Regard section.
