Cannes: Audiard hailed, Blanchett snubbed

Director Jacques Audiard, Palme d'Or award winner for his film Dheepan, delivers a speech on stage during the closing ceremony of the 68th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 24, 2015. Photo: Regis Duvignau

Director Jacques Audiard, Palme d'Or award winner for his film Dheepan, delivers a speech on stage during the closing ceremony of the 68th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 24, 2015. Photo: Regis Duvignau

Published May 25, 2015

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Cannes - Dheepan has won the top prize at the 68th Cannes Film Festival, the Palme d'Or.

The Jacques Audiard-directed drama, which centres on refugees fleeing post-civil war Sri Lanka for a life in France, surprisingly claimed the coveted award after being selected by a judging panel led by acclaimed US filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen.

The French director, whose previous credits include A Prophet and Rust And Bone, told the BBC: "To receive a prize from the Coen brothers is something pretty exceptional. I'm very touched."

Meanwhile, Joel Coen said: "This isn't a jury of film critics. This is a jury of artists who are looking at the work."

Elsewhere, Son Of Saul - a Holocaust drama - won the Grand Prix prize, which is essentially the runner-up award, while Vincent Lindon won Best Actor for his role in Stephane Brize's The Measure Of A Man and Rooney Mara and Emmanuelle Bercot shared the Best Actress gong.

Son Of Saul was directed by Hungarian newcomer Laszlo Nemes, who reflected: "This continent is still haunted by this subject."

Top winners from the 68th Cannes Film Festival

Palme D’Or

Dheepan

Grand Prix

Son Of Saul

Jury Prize

The Lobster

Best Director

Hou Hsiao-hsien

Best Actor

Vincent Lindon

Best Actress

Rooney Mara and Emmanuelle Bercot

Best Screenplay

Michel Franco, Chronic

Camera d'Or (Best first feature)

La Tierra Y La Sombra

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