The dirctor as famous for his films as for his reclusive nature, lived up to the latter once again; he did not turn up to receive the much coveted prize.
Aki Kaurismaki’s film “Le Havre” was a favourite of the critics for the top award.
In addition to Robert De Niro (Chairman), the jury included the actors Uma Thruman, Jude Law, Martin Gusman, the writer Linn Ullmann, and the directors Olivier Assayas, Johnny To, and Mahamet Saleh Haroun.
Kirsten Dunst won the best actress prize for her role as a depressed bride in the film “Melancholia” by Lars von Trier of Denmark. The best actor prize went to Jean Dujardin for his role as a waning film star of the 1920’s in the film “The Artist,” a black and white film with almost no dialogues, by the French director Michel Hazanavicius.
The Grand Prix award was shared by “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia” from the Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, and “The Kid With a Bike” by the Belgian bothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.
The Best Director award was won by the Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, for the film “Drive”
The prize for the Best Screenwriting was awarded to the Israeli writer and director Joseph Cedar.
The Jury Prize was awarded to “Polisse,” from Maïwenn.
This year’s competition included four female directors; last year there were none.
In the short film competition, the Palme d’Or was awarded to “Cross Country” by Maryna Vroda, a Ukaranian director; the Jury Prize was given to “Badpakje 46” from the Belgian director Wannes Destoop.
