Day by Day

Weekend Wrap
Friday 19 May
Thursday 18 May
Wednesday 17 May
Tuesday 16 May
Monday 15 May
Sunday 14 May
Saturday 13 May
Friday 12 May
Thursday 11 May
Wednesday 10 May

Cannes comments
from around the world

When in Cannes

Sunday 21 May: Closing Ceremony

In a ceremony free of commercial breaks and long-winded speeches, Virginie Ledoyen and Jury President Luc Besson presented the 53rd Palme d'Or Awards with the top prize going to Lars Von Trier for Dancer in the Dark. Von Trier couldn't have been more at home as his leading lady, Bjork, took the Best Actress award and he himself the Palme D'or from the hands of presenter Catherine Deneuve, who also starred in the film. Many rumors circulated about the difficult relations on set between Bjork and von Trier, but the latter added in his acceptance speech, "I love you Bjork." As for Bjork, she did not show any emotion when the announcement of her Best Actress Award came and delivered a brief speech in English: "I am very grateful, thank you very much," to the standing ovation crowd.

John Waters delivered the most humble speech of the evening, when he thanked Gilles Jacob for "bringing an "etrange" American filmmaker from Baltimore to Cannes." He was given the honors of bestowing the Best Director Award to Edward Yang for Yi Yi.

As for Best Actor Tony Leung Chi-Wai sealed his fame here at Cannes with his role in In the Mood for Love. The 37-year old star from Hong Kong was handed the trophy by Monica Bellucci, who was introduced as the Actress who "embodies all that has graced Italian cinema."

Jiang Wen accepted the Grand Jury Prize (essentially the First Runner-Up) for his film Devils on the Doorstep. He brought his wife to the podium, who translated his speech from Chinese into flawless French. The Jury Prize, which is considered the jury's hearthrob film, went to Blackboards from Samira Makhmalbaf and Songs from the Second Floor by Roy Andersson.

The jury created a special prize this year awarded to the entire cast of Pavel Lounguine's La Noce. Two Iranians took the Camera d'Or, the award to first-time filmmakers. They were: Ghobadi for Zamani baraye masti ashba and Hassan Yektapanah for Djomeh.

Kerry Shaw