Terrence Malick’s TREE OF LIFE Wins Palme d’Or At 64th Cannes Film Festival; Best Actress Goes To Kirsten Dunst In MELANCHOLIA

President of the Jury Robert De Niro with the laureates of the 2011 Festival de Cannes – © Photo AFP

The official Jury of this 64th Festival de Cannes, presided over by Robert De Niro, revealed this evening the prize winners during the Closing Ceremony. Mélanie Laurent hosted Jane Fonda on the stage of the Grand Théâtre Lumière to award the Palme d’or to the best film out of the 20 In Competition

The Palme d’Or was awarded to Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life. After receiving his prize from Fonda, the producer of the film, Bill 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.”

FEATURE FILMS

Palme d’Or
THE TREE OF LIFE by Terrence MALICK

Grand Prix

BIR ZAMANLAR ANADOLU’DA (Once Upon A Time In Anatolia) by Nuri Bilge CEYLAN

THE KID WITH A BIKE by Jean-Pierre & Luc DARDENNE

Award for Best Director
Nicolas WINDING REFN for DRIVE

Jury Prize
POLISS by MAÏWENN

Award for Best Actor
Jean DUJARDIN in THE ARTIST by Michel HAZANAVICIUS

Award for Best Actress
Kirsten DUNST in MELANCHOLIA by Lars von TRIER

Award for Best Screenplay
Joseph CEDAR for FOOTNOTE

SHORT FILMS

Palme d’Or
CROSS-COUNTRY by Maryna VRODA

Jury Prize
BADPAKJE 46 (Swimsuit 46) by Wannes DESTOOP

CAMERA D’OR
LAS ACACIAS by Pablo GIORGELLI presented during CRITICS’ WEEK

UN CERTAIN REGARD

UN CERTAIN REGARD PRIZE Ex-æquo
ARIRANG by KIM Ki-Duk

HALT AUF FREIER STRECKE (Stopped on Track) by Andreas DRESEN

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
ELENA by Andrey ZVYAGINTSEV

AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR
BÉ OMID É DIDAR (Au revoir) by Mohammad RASOULOF

CINEFONDATION

First Prize Cinéfondation
DER BRIEF (The Letter) by Doroteya Droumeva
dffb, Germany

Second Prize Cinéfondation
DRARI by Kamal Lazraq
La Fémis, France

Third Prize Cinéfondation
YA-GAN-BI-HANG (Fly by Night) by Son Tae-gyum
Chung-Ang University, South Korea

The Jury of the CST has awarded the “PRIX VULCAIN DE L’ARTISTE-TECHNICIEN” to:

José Luis ALCAINE, for his work on lighting to support the storyline in the film, LA PIEL QUE HABITO by Pedro ALMODÓVAR.

Special Distinction: Joe BINI and Paul DAVIES for WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN by Lynne RAMSAY.