What do people think of female film directors? How are they compared to male directors? How are they perceived in the film industry? Are they any good?! Any comments about this topic greatly appreciated!! Jess xx

well Jess in my opinion there are not enough women directors out there. It doesn't mean that they are perceived badly but the directing field is mainly dominated by men.
My example of a good female director is Sofia Coppella who made Lost in Translation. She has a very comic side to telling her stories by twisting 'cultural' truths that make it funny to watch. Other female directors have been sucessful at Cannes and this year I believe( although am not sure), that the main film that won was by a female director.

One of the most significant (& controversial) directors was a woman - Leni Riefenstahl. The techniques of 'Triumph of the Will' influenced pretty much every film after- she was very talented. But sadly associated with the Nazi-party, and unlike Akira Kurosawa (who also made propaganda) didn't make another film after 'Olympia'