French Class Tops Cannes Honors

Del Toro grabs Bests Actor for Che
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted May 25, 2008 5:11 PM CDT
French Class Tops Cannes Honors
Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro poses with the best actor award for "Che," along with French actress Catherine Deneuve, who won a special prize in Cannes, France, on Sunday, May 25, 2008.    (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)

Laurent Cantet's The Class walked away with Cannes' prestigious Palm D'Or today, the final day of competition, reports the Hollywood Reporter. It was the first time a French film had claimed the prize since 1987. Cannes Jury President Sean Penn followed the announcement with a list of largely sleeper candidates. Among them:

  • Matteo Garrone's Gomorra, a harrowing exploration of organized crime in Naples, took home the Grand Prix.
  • Paolo Sorrentino's Il Divo, which examined longtime Italian PM Giulio Andreotti, claimed the Jury prize.
  • Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan was named Best Director for Three Monkeys.
  • Mexican actor Benicio del Toro won Best Actor for his role in Che.
(More Cannes Film Festival stories.)

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