Undoubtedly the biggest stir on the Croisette was caused by Lar Von Trier's love it or hate it Antichrist. Charlotte Gainsbourg picked up the best actress award for her efforts. The film was one of the recent string of projects by famous European auteurs that the Polish Film Institute (www.pisf.pl) has backed. Zentropa International Poland was a coproducer. If the number of words in print that journalists churned out during the festival about Antichrist is part of the equation then this makes it a winner in the publicity sweepstakes.

While the Turks did not have any film in the main programmes this year its pavilion was kept hopping as they celebrated having their top director Nuri Bilge Ceyhan on the main jury. He was often to be seen on the stylish pavilion organized by Mime Vargi.

The Romanian New Wave has not yet ebbed it seems as Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu picked up the Certain Regard Jury Prize for his film Politist, Adjectiv produced by 42 KM Films (http://www.42kmfilm.ro/) as well the FIPRESCI Critics Prize.(See FNE exclusive interview with this filmmaker)

Czech film student Zuzana Kirchnerova-Spidlova received the first Cinéfondation Award, aimed at helping new generations of filmmakers, for her short Baba.

Winners of the main competition

Palme d'Or

The White Ribbon

Michael Haneke

Grand Jury Prize

A Propher

Jacques Audiard

Best Actress

Charlotte Gainsbourg

France

Antichrist

Best Actor

Christoph Waltz

Inglourious Bastands

Special Jury Prize

Alain Resnais

Best Director
Brillante Mendoza

Kinatay

Best Screen Play

Mei Feng

Spring Fever

Jury Prize Ex Aequo

Fish Tank

Andrea Arnold

Thirst
Park Chan-wook

Camera d"OR

Samson and Delilah

Warwick Thornton

Best Short Film

Arean

Joao Salaviza