'The Tree of Life' Wins Top Prize at Cannes

May 23, 2011 04:19:38 GMT

Jury president Robert de Niro presented the Palme d'Or prize to the Terrence Malick-directed movie on Sunday, May 22, stating that the film was 'terrific'.

The 64th annual Cannes Film Festival has been concluded with a distribution of awards on Sunday, May 22. Among the various films previewed at the festival, Terrence Malick's film "The Tree of Life" scooped the coveted Palme d'Or prize.

Competition jury president Robert de Niro praised the drama film, which was premiered on May 16, saying that the film was "terrific". De Niro also further claimed, "I can't go into all the details, but we felt that it was a film that in its scope and its intentions was the best fit for the Palme d'Or."

"This decision was difficult because the other films were also very good, albeit very different. We had to find a compromise," he continued. "There were some intense debates over a number of films, three in particular: 'Pater', 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Le Havre'. But 'Habemus Papam' and 'The Skin That I Live In' also stimulated discussion."

Meanwhile, Kirsten Dunst won Best Actress Award at the festival through her role in "Melancholia". While delivering a speech, Dunst thanked the juries who kept her film in competition after her director Lars von Trier was expelled from the event over a Nazi joke, saying "Wow, what a week it's been!"

64th Cannes Film Festival Winners:

Best Picture, the The Palme d'Or winner: Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"
The Grand Prix: (tie): Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, "The Kid with a Bike" and Nuri Bilge Ceylan, "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia"
Best Director: Nicolas Winding Refn, "Drive"
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst, "Melancholia"
Best Screenplay: Joseph Cedar, "Footnote"
The Jury Prize: Maiwenn, "Poliss"
Camera d'Or: Pablo Giorgelli, "Las Acacias"
Short Film Palme d'Or: Maryna Vroda, "Cross-Country"