BY DIRECTOR: R

Lynne Ramsay, born in 1969, graduated from the National Film and Television school in 1995. Her graduation film 'Small Deaths' won the 1996 Cannes Prix du Jury, while her subsequent feature films, including the critically acclaimed 'Movern Callar' (2002) and 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' (2011) won numerous national and international film festival awards.

Nicolas Winding Refn was born in Copenhagen in 1970. He is known for his low-budget 'Pusher' trilogy, which gained him huge recognition. His subsequent films have cemented his style as a hyper-visual filmmaker, including his recent collaborations with actor Ryan Gosling in 'Drive' which was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, and the neo-noir Bangkok-set crime thriller 'Only God Forgives' (2013).

No other director has done more to focus on the lives of women in the American heartland than the director of 'Wendy and Lucy' (2008), 'Meek's Cutoff' (2010) and 'Certain Women' (2016). 'Old Joy' (2006) mapped out the plaintive terrain of her approach to drama and gave Will Oldham (aka singer Bonnie 'Prince' Billy) a leading role as a drifter. 'Night Moves' (2013) offered a unique perspective on environmental terrorism and drew a stunning performance from Dakota Fanning.