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CANNES 2009

Cannes Film Festival Awards 2009 - Michael Haneke Wins!

by Alex Billington
May 24, 2009

The 62nd Cannes Film Festival has come to an end. To put the finishing touches on another great festival, this year's awards, including the coveted Palme d'Or, have been announced. The jury was lead by actress Isabelle Huppert and included members Asia Argento, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, James Gray, Hanif Kureishi, Chang-dong Lee, Shu Qi, Sharmila Tagore, and Robin Wright Penn. There were a lot of strong contenders in the competition category this year, but big winner this year is The White Ribbon. Also, Best Director is a huge letdown, as I absolutely hated that movie! Read on for the complete list of winners.

Palme d'Or

Palme d'Or (Golden Palm):
The White Ribbon directed by Michael Haneke

Grand Prize (Runner Up):
Un Prophète (A Prophet) directed by Jacques Audiard

Special Jury Prize:
Alain Resnais director of Wild Grass (Les Herbes Folles)

Best Director:
Brillante Mendoza for Kinatay

Best Screenplay:
Feng Mei for Lou Ye's Spring Fever

Jury Prize:
Fish Tank directed by Andrea Arnold
Thirst directed by Park Chan-wook

Camera d'Or (First-Time Filmmaker):
Samson and Delilah directed by Warwick Thornton

Best Leading Actor:
Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds

Best Leading Actress:
Charlotte Gainsbourg in Antichrist

Un Certain Regard Prize:
Dogtooth (Kynodntas) directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Jury Prize:
Police, Adjective (Politist, Adjectiv) directed by Corneliu Porumboiu

Special Jury Prize:
No One Knows About Persian Cats directed by Bahman Ghobadi
Father of My Children (Le Père de mes Enfants) directed by Mia Hansen-Løve

Congratulations to The White Ribbon and Un Prophete and all the winners. We'll definitely be back at Cannes next year! Stay tuned for a few more reviews and video blogs over the next week or so. Our coverage of the Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals will start in late August and September. Au revoir!

Filed under Awards, Cannes 09

From around the web:

Al

what an odd Cannes eh? White Ribbion? just so confused. I was expecting Un Prophet or Wild Grass, hell even Basterds could have had a chance considering the Cannes jury usually thinks for themselves rather than listening to critics. Im really happy for Waltz though, seems like he earned it, can't wait to see it on the big screen, and I hope that Universal sees this as a good sign.
http://fucku.com fucku

Isabelle Hupert won best actress in Cannes for a Michael Haneke film, makes sense that it won the Palme d'Or... with Isabelle Hupert being president of the jury.
Al

2, good catch
Boxoffice Marco

#2, that's like when Tarantino was heading the jury and Fahrenheit 9/11 won the Palme D'Or
Al

4, umm not at all. One case has to do with the fact that Isabelle might have argued to give Haneke the win as a way of showing gratitude or because she felt like she owed him. Other than the fact that Moore and Tarantino are american, they have no history together and nothing in common. The connections are truly and utterly different.
Arthur

Tarantino was arguing with the jury because he wanted to give the award to OLDBOY not for Fahrenheit, there's no bias
Bahumbug

#5- Tarantino is a HUGE Michael Moore fan and has spoken proudly of Moore's films. Although he did feel that Oldboy was better as #6 points out so I don't know what #4 is talking about.
manny paner

Brillante Mendoza's Kinatay probed that such indie film from the Philippines could make it to Cannes. Bravo to Sir Brillante for creating such genuine and real movie. I think I'm gonna be seeing more of Philippines talent in the next Cannes.
Hyacinth

@ 8: AMEN! I, myself, was so proud when he started popping into Cannes consecutively! Prize or no, he is a credit to Filipino Filmmaking! Congratulations Mr. Mendoza!
Lina

You may have hated Kinatay, but the jury loved it. I'm sure Kintay closely competed with The White Ribbon for Palme d'Or.
maria lourdes c. abella

at last a filipino made history at cannes film festival. our very own brillante mendoza won a best director. you gave honor to our country brillante. mabuhay ka ! and to whoever hated his film, this i have to say. " eat your heart out " .... you may have hated " kiantay " but the jury voted for him as the best filmmaker of the year.
Wells

I want to say congratulations to all the winners. Short term health insurance
Spartacus

Christopher Waltz deserves the OSCAR and Basterds deserves Best Film... PERIOD !!! it's the best written movie in at least 50 years at least!!!