Cannes Film Festival Awards: ‘Dheepan’ Wins The Palme d’Or

Dheepan won the Palme d’Or at the 68th annual Cannes Film Festival on Sunday night.

The French film stars Jesuthasan Antonythasan as Dheepan, a former soldier from Sri Lanka who left his country in the midst of a civil war to escape to France. With him are a young woman, Yalini (Kalieaswari Srinivasan), and a young girl, Illayaal (Claudine Vinasithamby) – the three passed as a family and used false passports to flee the country. Dheepan follows their struggle adjusting to life in the outskirts of Paris, as violence and conflict surround the makeshift family.

Dheepan is French writer-director Jacques Audiard’s seventh feature film, but his first in competition at the Festival. Audiard was awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Festival’s awards ceremony, where he received a standing ovation.

The Grand Prix, awarded to the runner-up, was awarded to Son of Saul, the debut film from Hungarian director Laszlo Nemes. Son of Saul, a Holocaust drama, received strong reviews at Cannes and also took home an International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award.

Rooney Mara took home an award for best actress for her role in Carol, directed by Todd Haynes, as did Emmanuelle Bercot for her role in Mon Roi. The best actor award went to The Measure of a Man’s Vincent Lindon, while Hou Hsiao-Hsien won best director for his martial arts film, The Assassin.

Michel Franco took home the award for best screenplay for his film, Chronic, about a home care nurse who specializes in patients with terminal illnesses. Cesar Augusto Acevedo won the Camera d’Or – the prize given to the best debut feature film – for his film Land and Shade (La Tierra y La Sombra), and Ely Dager won the short film award for Waves ’98.

Finally, the Jury Prize went to Yorgos LanthimosThe Lobster, the surreal, dystopian drama starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz about a world in which people must find a mate within 45 days or be turned into animals.

Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Olivia Truffaut-Wong was born and raised in Berkeley, California, where she developed her love of all things entertainment. After moving to New York City to earn her degree in Film Studies, she stayed on the East Coast to follow her passion and become an entertainment writer. She lives on a diet of television, movies and food.

Share
Published by
Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Recent Posts

TIFF Oscar Buzz: ‘The Martian,’ ‘Room’ And ‘The Danish Girl’ Lead In Oscar Race

The Martian, Room and The Danish Girl emerge Oscar front-runners as the Toronto International Film Festival…

9 years ago

Dan Rather Confirms Authenticity Of ‘Truth’ At TIFF, Stands By 2004 Report About George W. Bush

Truth, the drama based on Dan Rather’s departure from CBS, premiered to a standing ovation…

9 years ago

‘Equals’ Starring Kristen Stewart And Nicholas Hoult Inspires Heated Bidding War At TIFF

Equals, the sci-fi romance starring Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult, is closing in on a…

9 years ago

Jessica Chastain Gushes Over Playing An Astronaut In ‘The Martian’ At TIFF Press Conference

Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain likened shooting The Martian to being a little kid playing…

9 years ago

Jake Gyllenhaal Kicks Off TIFF 2015 With ‘Demolition’

Jake Gyllenhaal opened the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday with the premiere of Demolition.…

9 years ago

Natalie Portman Attends The TIFF Premiere Of Her Directorial Debut ‘A Tale Of Love And Darkness’

Natalie Portman appeared in Toronto on Thursday for the North American premiere of her directorial…

9 years ago