64th Festival de Cannes - award winners

Tonight at the Festival de Cannes in France, the jury presided by Robert De Niro presented their awards in a ceremony at the Palais. Robert De Niro received a standing ovation from the attendees.

The top prize Palme d’Or went to Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life. Malick wasn't on hand to receive the honour and so producers Bill Pohlad and Dede Gardner accepted the award. Pohlad said, "I have always wanted to speak French, and tonight more than ever. Tonight I have to take the place of a giant. Terrence Malick is very shy and discreet. But I spoke to him today and I know he is very happy to receive this honour. The Tree Of Life was a long journey, but it was all worth it. I would like to thank especially the Festival de Cannes."

The Grand Prix was a tie between Le Gamin au Vélo (The Kid With a Bike) by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne and Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The controversial choice for the Jury Prize was Polisse by Maiwenn, which like Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da is a police procedural but received a more polarized critical response.

Nicolas Winding Refn won Prix de la Mise en Scene (Best Director) for Drive. The Prix d’interpretation masculine (Best Actor) went to Jean Dujarin in the silent film The Artist. Kirsten Dunst received the Prix d’interpretation feminine (Best Actress) for Melancholia.

Accepting her award, Dunst said, "What a week! My thanks to the Jury, this is a real honour. I'm grateful to the Festival for keeping the film in Competition. And I'm grateful to Lars Von Trier for letting me play the role with such freedom." Although director Von Trier is often accused of misogyny, he writes strong women's roles that many actresses relish. Dunst is the third star of a Lars von Trier film to win Best Actress, after her co-star Charlotte Gainsbourg in 2008 (Antichrist) and Björk in 2000 (Dancer in the Dark).

The jury consisted of president Robert De Niro (USA), Martina Gusman (Argentina), Nansun Shi (China), Uma Thurman (USA), Linn Ullmann (Norway), Olivier Assayas (France), Jude Law (UK), Mahamat Saleh Haround (Chad) and Johnnie To (China/Hong-Kong).

Previously over the last three days, awards had been announced for the 50th Semaine Internationale de la Critique (International Critics' Week), Cinéfondation, the 43rd Quinzaine des Réalisateurs (Directors' Fortnight), Un Certain Regard, FIPRESCI and Ecumenical Jury.

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Complete list of winners for the 64th Festival de Cannes

Palme d’Or

The Tree of Life, by Terrence Malick

Grand Prix Ex-aequo

Le Gamin au Vélo (The Kid With a Bike) by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da (Once Upon a Time in Anatolia) by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Prix de la Mise en Scene (Best Director)

Nicolas Winding Refn for Drive

Prix du Scenario (Best Screenplay)

Joseph Cedar for Hearat Shulayim (Footnote)

Camera d’Or (Best First Feature)

Las Acacias by Pablo Gorgelli

Prix du Jury (Jury Prize)

Polisse by Maiwenn

Prix d’interpretation feminine (Best Actress)

Kirsten Dunst for Melancholia

Prix d’interpretation masculine (Best Actor)

Jean Dujarin, The Artist

Vulcain Prize for an artist technician, awarded by the C.S.T.
La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In), cinematography by José Luis Alcaine

Special Distinction by the C.S.T.
We Need to Talk About Kevin, Sound Design by Paul Davies, Editing by Joe Bini

Palme d’Or (short film)

Cross, Maryna Vroda (France)

Jury Prize (short film)
Badpakje 46 (Swimuit 46), Wannes Destoop