Editorials > Cannes Winners Announced!

While a hefty portion of the American movie-going public is swept up in Indiana Jones-mania, the Europeans are celebrating a quaint festival in a little town called Cannes. Earlier today, the jury bestowed its many awards upon a number of deserving films and filmmakers, and for the first time in twenty-one years, a Frenchman took home the coveted Palme d'Or. Laurent Cantet won that honor for "The Class" ("Entre les murs"), a film based on an autobiographical novel by Francois Begaudeau. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film stars real students and teachers in a rough Parisian neighborhood high school.

The Grand Prix went to Matteo Garrone's "Gomorra," described as "a harrowing exploration of organized crime in Naples." The jury prize went to "Il Divo." Directed by Paolo Sorrentino, the film is a caricature of seven-time Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti. Nuri Bilge Ceylan of Turkey was named best director for his work on "Three Monkeys" and dedicated his prize to his "lonely and beautiful country."

Jury president Sean Penn announced that special prizes would be bestowed upon Clint Eastwood and Catherine Deneuve, for their considerable bodies of work. Eastwood was in town for his new directorial outing "The Changeling," while Deneuve's "A Christmas Tale" was being shown as well.

Best actor went to Benicio Del Toro for his portrayal of Che Guevara, and best actress to Sandra Corveloni for her role in Walter Salles' and Daniela Thomas' Brazilian drama "Linha de Passe."

Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne won the screenplay award for "Lorna's Silence" and Steve McQueen's (not that Steve McQueen, this one) "Hunger" won the Camera d'Or prize, for best first film in selection.

-David Morgan