65th Festival de Cannes Award Winners – Michael Haneke’s AMOUR (LOVE) Takes Palme d’Or

Presided over by Nanni Moretti, the official jury revealed the award winners during the Closing Ceremony of the 65th Festival de Cannes. Actress Bérénice Bejo (THE ARTIST) hosted the ceremony from the stage of the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

Out of the 22 films in competition, the Palme d’Or was awarded to AMOUR (LOVE) by Michael Haneke. Michael Haneke received his award from Adrien Brody and Audrey Tautou. AMOUR is the story of Georges and Anne who are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple’s bond of love is severely tested.

Winner of 2009’s Palme d’Or for THE WHITE RIBBON, Haneke said afterwards at the press conference, “The story I tell is based on the promise my wife and I made to each other: not to separate in a situation like the one in the film. We see that all the time and it is a widespread problem. I experienced it in my own family and that is what pushed me to make the film Love.”

FEATURE FILMS

Palme d’Or
AMOUR (Love) by Michael HANEKE

Grand Prix
REALITY by Matteo GARRONE

Award for Best Director
Carlos REYGADAS for POST TENEBRAS LUX

Jury Prize
THE ANGELS’ SHARE  by Ken LOACH

Award for Best Actor
Mads MIKKELSEN in JAGTEN (The Hunt) by Thomas VINTERBERG

Award for Best Actress
Cristina FLUTUR & Cosmina STRATAN in DUPÃ DEALURI (Beyond The Hills) by Cristian MUNGIU

Award for Best Screenplay
Cristian MUNGIU for pour DUPÃ DEALURI (Beyond The Hills)

SHORT FILMS

Palme d’Or
SESSIZ-BE DENG (Silent) by L. Rezan YESILBAS

CAMERA D’OR 
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD by Benh ZEITLIN presented in Un Certain Regard Selection

Claude Miller’s Thérèse Desqueyroux starring Audrey Tautou, Gilles Lellouche and Anaïs Demoustier, was screened at the end of the ceremony.

Click HERE for the complete list of the Cannes 2012 Winners.