Robert De Niro was actually called out at a press conference for the lack of female directors he's worked with over his 50+ year career.
French actress-turned-director Maiwenn asked De Niro that question during a recent masterclass at the Marrakech Film Festival (via Variety), the actor replied with a simple “I don’t know,” only adding, “I don’t have a problem working with a woman. If it’s a good script I’d do it.”
De Niro has worked with three female filmmakers in his career: Penny Marshall("Awakenings"), Agnes Varda ("One Hundred and One Nights"), and Nancy Meyers ("The Intern").
The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.