1. Sit-down interview with Kristen Stewart.

inc:

AP Entertainment

Cannes, France 24 May 2014

SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart/Actress - what motivated her to take on the role:

"I think the fear that motivated me here was working with Juliette. And with Olivier as well. It's just such a different setting for an American actress. It's a very European feeling film. It thinks a lot, it doesn't package its ideas and deliver them to you. I think it takes its on ride and it's really complex and what scared me was hitting it perfectly and striking this balance and this was an opportunity to really make the point hit home. I play an assistant to an actress, I comment on the sort of potential for the media to be and it's very commonly incredibly superficial. It's not yeah, I'm being nice right now, but basically saying this is so silly and not in an interview, not to you right now, but in a film that really means something that it's a different thing. So that was definitely satisfying to say some of those lines to her and not scary, just really satisfying."

AP Entertainment

Cannes, France 24 May 2014

SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Stewart/Actress - on working on location in the Alps:

"Actually I must say when we were in St. Moritz, Sils Maria, like that's where we shot it, I did start to get a little bit of cabin fever. I kind of felt like Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining' for a minute there. It was like we were all living in this old stuffy hotel and it was just like and we were so obsessed with making this movie and every second of our lives was devoted to focusing on this movie that it becomes this isolated obsessive environment but it's amazing, that's what it should be. I'm into that. I really like intense bursts of like take these three months and think about nothing but this, but it definitely got a little... I mean at a certain point I was like 'OK, we need to all relax a little bit.'"

'PULP' ON 'CLOUDS'

Quentin Tarantino and the stars of "Pulp Fiction" walked the red carpet in Cannes on Friday night (23 MAY 2014) for the premiere of "Clouds of Sils Maria."

The acclaimed American director is at the festival this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his cult classic, which won the festival's top prize in 1994.

They were joined at the event by French director Olivier Assayas and his "Sils Maria" cast, which includes Kristen Stewart, Juliette Binoche, and Chloe Grace Moretz.

Assayas' latest offering is showing in competition at this year's festival which draws to a close on Sunday.

Tarantino will also be helping to close the 67th edition of the festival with a tribute to Sergio Leone.

The filmmaker will present a restored version of Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964) at the May 24 closing ceremony.

Usually, the Palme d'Or winner is screened at the Cannes closing ceremony, but this year's schedule has been tweaked because of European elections.

The Palme d'Or winner will be shown Sunday (25 MAY 2014) instead.

AP Entertainment

Cannes, France, 23 May 2014

1. Tilt down of red carpet

2. Pan of photographers

3. Joe Jackson red carpet

4. Catherine Deneuve arrival

5. Cutaway of press

6. Various of "Pulp Fiction" arrivals including Lawrence Bender, Quentin Tarantino, Uma Thurman, John Travolta and Kelly Preston

7. Tilt up Kristen Stewart

8. Cutaway of press

9. Various of "Clouds of Sils Maria" arrivals including Kristen Stewart, Juliette Binoche, Chloe Grace Moretz and Olivier Assayas

KENDALL JENNER STUNS AT CANNES; KRISTEN STEWART SHARES RED CARPET WITH PALME D'OR NOMINEE '120 BEATS PER MINUTE'

Kendall Jenner stunned on the red carpet in a billowing white dress Saturday (20 MAY 2017) at the Cannes Film Festival as she followed Kristen Stewart and the cast of Palme d'Or nominee "120 Beats Per Minute" up the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals.

Stewart – who seemed more reluctant to pose for the world's press photographers - was premiering her directorial debut, a short film called "Come Swim," starring Josh Kaye.

Showing as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations at the Festival, the tale uses both impressionistic and realist portraits to make up a diptych of one man's day.

She was followed by director Robin Campillo and the cast of his Palme d'Or nominated drama, "120 Beats Per Minute," for its official festival premiere.

Set in the early 1990s, the French AIDS drama has quickly joined the shortlist of favorites to win the coveted award.

One of its stars, Nahuel Perez Biscayart, was also singled out for his moving performance as an HIV-positive young man who is drawn to action.

Co-star Arnaud Valois plays a newcomer to the activist group, who falls for him.

The film's docu-drama retelling of that painful period, combined with a burgeoning spirit of unity for the gay community, earned it some of the best reviews of the festival thus far. Vanity Fair called the film "a vital new gay classic."

Campillo, himself, was an ACT UP militant activist in the '90s and had long wanted to turn his experience — one of both tragedy and inspiration — into a film.

The movie's ensemble cast also includes "Les Combattants" actress Adele Haenel .

Campillo, the co-screenwriter of the Palme d'Or-winning film, "The Class," makes his directorial debut in the competition

His 2004 film "They Came Back" was adapted into the hit French and US TV series, "The Returned" ("Les Revenants").

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cannes, France, 20 May 2017

1. Wide tilt Palais steps

2. Wide shot attendees pose for camera

3. Wide shot attendee poses for camera

4. Pan photographers to Pamela Anderson

5. Medium protesters holding paper signs reading (L-R as visible)"No more Chechnya Enough"

6. Wide shot Kristen Stewart arrives

7. Medium, protesters hand in signs to smiling man with earpiece

8. Cutaway photographers

9. Various, Kristen Stewart poses for photographers

10. Cutaway photographers

11. Various Kristen Stewart poses for photographers

12. Cutaway photographers

13. Wide shot Kristen Stewart poses for photographers

14. Wide shot director Robin Campillo (center) and cast of "120 Beats Per Minute"

15. Close up (L-R) actress Adele Haenel, actors Nahuel Perez Biscayart and Arnaud Valois (Valois then steps off screen)

16. Wide pan of cast

17. Cutaway photographers

18. Various director and cast pose for photographers

19. Close up actor Nahuel Perez Biscayart

20. Tilt photographers to director and cast

21. Close tilt director Robin Campillo to Nahuel Perez Biscayart

22. Wide shot director and cast pose for photographers

23. Cutaway camera

24. Wide pan director Robin Campillo, and cast on steps

25. Medium shot actor Nahuel Perez Biscayart and actress Aloise Sauvage

26. Wide tilt down to cast on steps

27. Medium, actor Julien Herbin kisses Nahuel Perez Biscayart actress Aloise Sauvage applauds in direction of red carpet, pulls to wide as cast enter Palais

28. Various, Kendall Jenner arriveßs on carpet, walks up and poses for cameras

29. Cutaway photographer

30. Various Kendall Jenner

31. Wide shot Kendall Jenner poses for photographers, walks up Palais steps

MEMENTO FILMS - No re-use/re-sale of any film clips without clearance

32. Film clip- "120 Beats Per Minute"

STORY

FRA Opening Night Carpet

SHOWS

The opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival 2016 with a celeb-filled red carpet including, Gong Li, Julianne Moore, Susan Sarandon, Naomi Watts, Eva Longoria, Doutzen Kroes, Paolo Sorrentino, Gael Garcia Bernal, Victoria Beckham, Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick

82 WOMEN WALK THE RED CARPET IN CANNES FILM FEST PROTEST

Eighty-two women climbed the steps of the Palais des Festivals at the Cannes Film Festival Saturday (12 MAY 2018) in an unprecedented red carpet protest to press for improved gender equality in the film industry.

The number of stars, filmmakers and film industry professionals ascending the steps represented the number of female filmmakers who have been selected to compete at Cannes during the festival's seven-decade history.

In contrast to their 82, 1,866 films directed by men have been picked for the prestigious festival lineup.

Organizers said the event was orchestrated by the Time's Up movement and the French movement known as 5020x2020 to show "how hard it is still to climb the social and professional ladder" for women.

It brought an array of film industry professionals to the Cannes red carpet, including actresses Salma Hayek and Jane Fonda, "Wonder Woman" filmmaker Patty Jenkins and French director Agnes Varda, a recipient of an honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Also joining were the five female members of this year's Cannes jury: Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Ava DuVernay, Lea Seydoux and Burundian singer Khadja Nin. Blanchett read a statement atop the Palais steps in English; Varda read it in French.

The protest was held ahead of the premiere of French filmmaker Eva Husson's "Girls of the Sun," which is about a Kurdish battalion of women soldiers. Husson is one of three female filmmakers out of the 21 movies in competition for the Palme d'Or this year.

The other two — Nadine Labaki's "Capernaum," and Alice Rohrwacher's "Happy as Lazzaro" — are to premiere next week.

Cannes has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years over the number of female directors selected into its main slate, considered one of the most esteemed achievements in cinema. Jane Campion is the only female filmmaker to ever win the Palme.

The festival supported Saturday's protest. Festival director Thierry Fremaux earlier this week hailed Saturday's event as a way for women "to affirm their presence."

Fremaux has repeatedly insisted that the festival chooses its films purely based on quality. But he's also signaled that the festival is reanalyzing its procedures and making its selection committees gender-balanced.

Cannes, France, 12 May 2018

1. Medium shot, pull out to wide Kirsten Stewart, Lea Seydoux, Khadja Nin, Ava DuVernay and Cate Blanchett arrival

2. Cutaway press

3. Various Salma Hayek, Sofia Boutella, Patty Jenkins and other film makers arrive

4. Pan of arrivals

5. Cutaway photographers

6. Wide shot Eighty two film industry professionals stand on the steps of the Palais des Festivals

7. UPSOUND (French/English) Cate Blanchett, actress, jury president: "Madame and monsieur bienvenue. On these steps today stand 82 women."

8. Cutaway crowd

9. Wide shot Eighty two film industry professionals stand on the steps of the Palais des Festivals

UPSOUND (English) Cate Blanchett, actress, jury president:

"The prestigious Palme d'Or has been bestowed upon 71 male directors, too numerous to mention by name but only two female directors, Jane Campion, who is with us in spirit and the wonderful Agnès Varda who stand with us today. These facts are stark and undeniable."

10. Cutaway camera operator

11. UPSOUND (English) Cate Blanchett, actress, jury president:

"We all face our own unique challenges but we stand together on these steps today as a symbol of our determination and our commitment to progress. We are writers, we are producers, we are directors, actresses, cinematographers, talent agent, editors, distributors, sales agents and all of us are involved in the cinematic arts. And we stand today in solidarity with women of all industries."

12. Cutaway camera operator

13. Various of Eighty two film industry professionals clapping and holding hands in the air

14. Tilt down from front of Palais des Festivals to wide of women clapping on the steps

CANNES KICKS OFF WITH STARS AND SNIPERS

Under the watchful eye of the French security forces, the 69th Cannes Film Festival kicked off with a celeb-filled red carpet Wednesday night (11 MAY 2016).

Coming six months after the Paris terror attacks, snipers were in position on the Palais des Festivals rooftop as stars including Julianne Moore, Justin Timberlake, Gael Garcia Bernal, Jessica Chastain, Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria, Gong Li and many more walked the famous red carpet for the premiere of Woody Allen's 1930s Hollywood comedy "Cafe Society" - the opening film.

Alan was joined at the event by cast members Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively.

In the film, Eisenberg stars as a Bronx nebbish trying to make it in Hollywood, where his uncle (Steve Carell) is a powerful agent. He becomes smitten with his uncle's assistant, played by Stewart.

Also on the carpet were this year's competition jury, led by Australian filmmaker George Miller and including actors Donald Sutherland, Vanessa Paradis, Kirsten Dunst and Mads Mikkelsen.

Over the next 10 days, they will screen an especially strong slate of films vying for the Palme d'Or - the festival's top prize - including new releases from Pedro Almodovar, Jim Jarmusch, Asghar Farhadi, Andrea Arnold, Sean Penn and the Dardenne brothers.

Other high profile directors screening films at the festival include Steven Spielberg ("The BFG") and Jodie Foster ("Money Monster"). Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are among the stars expected to attend the movie extravaganza, which runs until Sunday, May 22.

AP Entertainment

Cannes, 11 May 2016

1. Tilt down, Palais des Festivals banner to security

2. Various of security

3. Medium shot of sniper on roof of Palais des Festivals

4. Wide shot, sniper on roof, tilt down to red carpet

5. Tilt up from crowd to security

6. Medium shot, lookout on roof of Palais des Festivals

7. Pan of red carpet

8. Various of Gong Li on red carpet

9. Various of Julianne Moore on red carpet

10. Various of Susan Sarandon

11. Various of Naomi Watts

12. Various of Eva Longoria

13. Various of Doutzen Kroes

14. Medium Paolo Sorrentino and guest

15. Medium of Gael Garcia Bernal

16. Various of Victoria Beckham

17. Various of Justin Timberlake

18. Various Anna Kendrick

19. Various of Timberlake and Kendrick

20. Various of Jessica Chastain and Vincent Lindon

21. Various of jury including George Miller, Arnaud Desplechin, Kirsten Dunst, Valeria Golino, Mads Mikkelsen, Laszlo Nemes, Vanessa Paradis, Katayoon Shahabi and Donald Sutherland

22. Various of Woody Allen and "Café Society" cast, including Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively

23. Tilt down from Palais des Festival banner to red carpet steps

RED CARPET ROLLED OUT AHEAD OF OPENING NIGHT OF 67th CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

The red carpet has been rolled out over the famous steps of the Cannes Film Festival, ready to welcome the stars at the opening gala in a few hours time.

The 67th Cannes Film Festival will open Wednesday evening (14 May 2014) with Nicole Kidman's new movie "Grace of Monaco."

Directed by Olivier Dahan, it stars Kidman as screen icon Grace Kelly, torn between her duties as Princess of Monaco and the chance to return to Hollywood to star in an Alfred Hitchcock film.

This year brings a selection somewhat light on Hollywood and perhaps missing some of the year's most anticipated releases (like Paul Thomas Anderson's "Inherent Vice," due in December).

But it's heavy on world-class auteurs, including Jean-Luc Godard, Ken Loach, the Dardenne brothers, Mike Leigh and Michel Hazanavicius, returning to where his film "The Artist" became a sensation.

Films in competition will bring a bevy of A-listers to the prestigious red carpet, including both former "Twilight" co-stars Robert Pattinson (in "Maps to the Stars" and the Aussie outback thriller "The Rover") and Kristen Stewart (in Olivier Assayas' "Clouds of Sils Maria").

Ryan Gosling presents his directorial debut, "Lost River."

Notably this year has a bigger presence of women, with two female directors competing in the main competition and five women on the jury - which is headed up by Jane Campion.

The 67th Cannes Film Festival runs through until Sunday 25th May.

AP Entertainment

Cannes, France, 14th May 2014

1. Low angle up to Cannes 2014 banner above steps

2. Wide shot man carries roll of red carpet

3. Close up staff carrying roll of red carpet

4. Pan staff laying carpet at top of steps

5. Close up man sticking carpet to the ground

6. Close up hands of man sticking carpet to ground

7. Wide shot of steps

8. Close up men laying carpet on steps

9. Close up of carpet being laid on steps

10. Mid shot men laying carpet on the steps

11. Wide pan end of red carpet area to steps

12. Mid shot onlookers taking photographs

13. Close up reflection of the red carpet area in woman's sunglasses

14. Pull out from Cannes banner to wide shot of the red carpet

15. Mid of man taking plastic cover off roll of red carpet

16. Close up corner of carpet being cut to size

17. Wide shot last roll of carpet being rolled out

18. Pan from photographers to red carpet area

19. Pull out to wide shot red carpet area

20. Close up carpet being laid

21. Pan from onlooker to wide shot of the red carpet

22. Close up red carpet being stamped into position

23. Wide tilt down steps to red carpet

24. Close up reflection of red carpet in man's sunglasses

25. Tilt up of steps

CANNES WINNERS REACT TO THEIR AWARDS

Veteran British director Ken Loach has won his second Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for "I, Daniel Blake."

The award for the 79-year-old, the festival's top prize, was announced by actor Mel Gibson at the Sunday ceremony at the Palais des Festivals on the French Riviera.

"I, Daniel Blake" is a warmly realistic drama about a middle-aged widower in northern England who can neither work nor get government benefits after a heart attack. Loach previously also won the top award for "The Wind That Shakes The Barley."

Loach said that he would like to dedicate his Palme d'Or to the ordinary people who have suffered because of bureaucracy.

"The film is about the cruelty of bureaucracy and it starts as a comedy and finished seriously. But we met many inspiring people who told us their stories so of course the film is for them and the prize is for them; people who find food to feed the hungry people in our country which is a hugely rich country, and I know it's like that throughout Europe. So yes, it's for those people who are struggling against the cruelty of bureaucracy, which ever country."

When asked how it felt to receive a Palme d'Or at this point his career, Loach joked, "it shows that's there is life when you're nearly 80 "

French director Olivier Assayas received shared the Best Director awards with Romanian director Cristian Mungiu.

Assayas won for "The Personal Shopper" starring Kristen Stewart as a young woman working in Paris as a personal shopper to a celebrity. She grieves the death of her twin brother but believes that she is able to connect with her brother from the other side. Assayas praised Steward for her dedication to the role and said that he couldn't have done it without her.

"This belongs to Kristen. When you are a director, as good as you can get, you are nothing if you don't have the actress who brings you then energy, who gives you strength in every single shot, who understands what you are doing just like a ballet dancer in front of your camera. Kristen is the co-author of this film, she owns this."

Mungiu said he didn't mind sharing the award with Assayas at all since he was a huge fan of his work. The Romanian director won this year for his family drama "Graduation." Mungiu said that he hopes his win will bring more people to the theaters to watch the movie.

"I think it's great to get awards but unless films pleased spectators, awards don't mean too much. So I hope this is accommodation for everybody to watch the film. Maybe think about what the film wants to tell us because I think cinema has this power, to make people think about the choices they make and maybe find a better discourse for their children because unless we educate our children well, we won't have a better world. "

Iranian director, Asghar Farhadi's film "The Salesman," picked up two awards - Best Screenplay and Best Actor for Shahab Hosseini.

The director said that he was thrilled for his actor, and didn't expect to hear his name called.

"So, as soon as his name was called, I feel like I had won. I was very happy for him. I really didn't expect to receive another prize. I feel very privileged and grateful for having received 2 prizes for 1 film out of the 7 prizes that the festivals give."

Standing by his director's side, Hosseini said that there are a lot of people that he needed to thank for his best actor win.

"Well this is a great night in my life. I believe in God so I think I owe it to God and secondly to Asghar Farhadi and his trust. I'm very glad to be able to give some joy to my people because I think they've been pray for this to happen to me. "

Jaclyn Jose is the first Filipino actress to ever win the Best Actress award at Cannes. It's an emotional night for Jose who also has her daughter, with her by her side. Jose said that she hopes her win will bring some new change for her country, when their new president Rodrigo Duterte is sworn in next month.

"The Filipinos will watch the film because I won and a lot of people will see what the movie is all about. I'm sure our new president will go to the places where we shoot and look for Ma' Rosa and find out and stop this thing," said Jose.

Other winners included British director Andrea Arnold, who won the Jury Prize for "American Honey"; French and Romanian filmmakers Olivier Assayas and Cristian Mungiu, who shared the Best Director award for their films "Personal Shopper" and "Graduation"; plus Canadian director Xavier Dolan who picked up the Grand Jury Prize for his drama, "It's Only the End of the World."

Cannes, 22 May 2016

1. Wide shot of Ken Loach, director, holding the Palme d'Or award

2. Close up shot of the Palme d'Or

3. Pan shot from cameraman to Loach

4. Tilt up shot of Loach

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Loach, director, on who he would like to dedicate the Palme d'Or to

"The film is about the cruelty of bureaucracy and it starts as a comedy and finished seriously. But we met many inspiring people who told us their stories so of course the film is for them and the prize is for them; people who find food to feed the hungry people in our country which is a hugely rich country, and I know it's like that throughout Europe. So yes, it's for those people who are struggling against the cruelty of bureaucracy, which ever country."

(Reporter: What does it mean to you to win the Palme d'Or at this point in your career?)

Ken Loach: "Well it's extraordinary. I thought I was in extra time, to use a footballing image so it was a big surprise. We didn't expect to do another film and then here we are. So it was a big surprise and it shows that's there is life when you're nearly 80."

6. Pan shot from camera to Olivier Assayas, director "Personal Shopper,' speaking to reporters

7. Wide shot of Assayas

8. Tilt up shot of Assayas

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Olivier Assayas, director "Personal Shopper", on who he would like to dedicate his Best Director award to;

"Oh, I dedicate it to Kristen Stewart. This belongs to Kristen. When you are a director, as good as you can get, you are nothing if you don't have the actress who brings you the energy, who gives you strength in every single shot, who understands what you are doing, who's just like a ballet dancer in front of your camera. Kristen is the co-author of this film, she owns this."

10. Wide shot of Cristian Mungiu, director of Graduation, speaking to reporters

11. Tilt up shot of Mungiu

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristian Mungiu, director of "Graduation," on his Best Director win

"I would like to dedicate this awards to the spectators. I think it's great to get awards but unless films pleased spectators, awards don't mean too much. So I hope this is accommodation for everybody to watch the film and maybe think about what the film wants to tell us because I think cinema has this power, to make people think about the choices they make and maybe find a better discourse for their children because unless we educate our children well, we won't have a better world."

13. Wide shoot of Asghar Farhadi, Iranian director and Shahab Hosseini, actor with translator

14. Wide shot of Farhadi and Hosseini

15. Mid shot of Farhadi and Hosseini

16. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Asghar Farhadi, director "The Salesman", on his Best Screenplay win at Cannes

"I'm extremely happy. I've worked with Shahab many times. He's one of the best actors I've had the opportunity to work with. So as soon as his name was called, I feel like I had won. I was very happy for him. I really didn't expect to receive another prize. I feel very privileged and grateful for having received 2 prizes for 1 film out of the 7 prizes that the festivals give."

17. Tilt up shot from the Best Actor award to Hosseini

18. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Shahab Hosseini, actor, on his win for Best Actor at Cannes

"Well this is a great night in my life. I believe in God so I think I owe it to God and secondly to Asghar Farhadi and his trust. I'm very glad to be able to give some joy to my people because I think they've been pray for this to happen to me. "

19. Wide of Farhadi and Hosseini

20. Tilt up shot of Hosseini

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrea Arnold, director of "American Honey," on who she would like to share the award with

"Everyone who worked on the film. I mean we had a huge team of people. I know absolutely everyone who worked on the film worked with a great deal of love and put their hearts into what they did. So,it really does belong to everyone who worked on the film. I truly believe that. It was a real team effort."

22 Mid shot of Jaclyn Jose, actress, Best Actress winner with daughter actress Andi Eigenmann

23. Mid shot of Jaclyn Jose

24. SOUNDBITE (English), Jaclyn Jose, actress, on her hopes for the Philippines president elect Rodrigo Duterte

Jaclyn Jose: "The Filipinos will watch the film because I won and a lot of people will see what the movie is all about. I'm sure our new president will go to the places where we shoot and look for Ma' Rosa and find out and stop this thing. Andi, am I right?"

Andi Eigenmann, Jaclyn Jose's daughter/actress: "I hope so "

Jaclyn Rose: "Yeah I hope so."

25. Close up shot of Jose's Best Actress Award

26. Wide shot of Xavier Dolan, director, winner of the Grand Prix award

27. Mid shot of Dolan

CATE BLANCHETT CALLS FOR EQUALITY AS CANNES FILM FESTIVAL PREPARES FOR OPENING NIGHT

The 71st Cannes Film Festival opens Tuesday (8 MAY 2018) with the premiere of Asghar Farhadi's "Everybody Knows," but the spotlight at the first post-Harvey Weinstein edition of the glamorous French Rivera gathering is squarely focused on issues of gender equality.

Ahead of the premiere of the Iranian filmmaker's Spanish-language debut, starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, jury president Cate Blanchett introduced the female-majority jury that will decide this year's Palme d'Or, among the most prestigious honors in cinema.

Blanchett, a prominent member of the Time's Up initiative, said that the #MeToo movement will play a role in this and every future Cannes, but will not factor into their deliberations.

"Would I like to see more women in competition? Absolutely. Do I expect and hope that that is going to happen in the future? I hope so. But we're dealing with what we have this year and our role is to, in this next almost two weeks, is to deal with what is in front of us.

Competing for the Palme d'Or are 21 films, including new releases from Spike Lee, Pawel Pawlikowski and Jean-Luc Godard. Three of the films in competition are directed by women: Nadine Labaki, Eva Husson and Alice Rohrwacher.

Blanchett noted the festival has improved the gender parity of its selection committees. Juries, she noted, have in recent years been split equally, with the president tilting the scales this year.

"It just happens that I tip the balance," said Blanchett, adding a mock "Sorry."

Only one female filmmaker, Jane Campion, has ever won the Palme d'Or.

Lasting change, Blanchett said, will only occur with time.

"Is it (#MeToo) going to have a direct impact upon the films in competition this year, six, nine months on? Not specifically. There are several women in competition but they're not there because of their gender, they're there because of the quality of their work and we'll be assessing them as filmmakers as we should be."

Asked if improving gender equality at the festival also means dialing down the red carpet glamor, Blanchett said no.

"Being attractive doesn't preclude being intelligent. I think that this is, by its very nature, a glamorous, fantastic, spectacular festival full of joie de vivre, you know, full of great, good humor, full of discord and disharmony... I think that those aspects of the festival are things to be enjoyed but, you know, in an equal, fair and equitable way."

Joining Blanchett on the jury this year are actresses Lea Seydoux and Kristen Stewart, actor Chang Chen, directors Andrey Zvyagintsev, Denis Villeneuve, and Robert Guediguian, and musician Khadja Nin.

The winner of the Palme d'Or will be announced on May 19 when the festival draws to a close.

Cannes, France, 8 May 2018

1. Wide, zoom in of Cate Blanchett arriving at press conference

2. Medium shot Kristen Stewart sitting down

3. Pan of press conference

4. Pan of jury (left-right) Lea Seydoux, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Ava DuVernay, Denis Villeneuve, Cate Blanchett and Robert Guediguian

5. Close-up Kristen Stewart and Chang Chen

6. Wide shot jury

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett, jury president/actress:

"(It) was one of the first questions I said to Thierry (Fremaux - Cannes director), I said, you know, 'We really do have to have gender parity and racial diversity on the'… I don't chose the jury, but 'on the jury.' And he said, 'But we do.' And in Thierry's time there have always been, you know, there's a female head of jury, then there are four men and four women. So it just happens that I've tipped the balance. Sorry."

8. Cutaway camera operator

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett, jury president/actress:

"For quality change to occur, for profound lasting change to occur it needs to take place through specific actions. Not through generalizations and not through pontification and it's, you know, it's addressing the gender gap and it's addressing the racial diversity and the equality and, you know, the way we make the work. And, of course, that's going on in our industry and I hope, you know, in many industries because the creative industries are no different from any other industry around the world in terms of those problems that they face. But, you know, is it going to have a direct impact upon the films in competition this year, six, nine months on? Not specifically. There are several women in competition but they're not there because of their gender, they're there because of the quality of their work and we'll be assessing them as filmmakers, as we should be."

10. Pan of presser

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett, jury president/actress:

"Being attractive doesn't preclude being intelligent. I think that this is, by its very nature, a glamorous, fantastic, spectacular festival, full of joie de vivre, you know, full of great, good humor, full of discord and disharmony. Making art, making work is not always going to be harmonious and we are not always going to be in concord and agreement. The world would be terribly boring if it was, you know? I think that those aspects of the festival are things to be enjoyed but, you know, in an equal, fair and equitable way."

12. Wide of press conference

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett, jury president/actress:

"Would I like to see more women in competition? Absolutely. Do I expect and hope that that is going to happen in the future? I hope so. But we're dealing with what we have this year and our role is to, in this next almost two weeks, is to deal with what is in front of us. And, as I said before, I'm not looking at the films as an Iranian filmmaker, or a Chilean, or a Korean, or a female, or a transgender - we don't have any transgender directors this year – oh, my God we failed already. But do you know what I mean? We're dealing with what we have in front of us and our job as industry members away from the festival is to keep working towards positive change."

14. Wide shot end of press conference

The catwalk continued in Cannes over the weekend, with models and movie stars jetting into the French Riviera.

Causing the Croisette to come to a standstill was Rihanna, who owned the red carpet in a billowing white Dior gown with Andy Wolf eyewear. She attended the premiere of controversial Netflix movie "Okja," which is screening in competition at the festival, and joined cast members Jake Gyllenhaal, Lily Collins, Paul Dano and Tilda Swinton.

Following Rihanna's lead and wearing white to the premiere of movie "120 Beats Per Minute" was Kendall Jenner, who floated down the red carpet in a Giambattista Valli gown with a massive train, clinched waist and one-shoulder detailing. Also in attendance was Kristen Stewart, wearing a Chanel skirt with suspenders and a peach bandeau top. Stewart is in town screening her directorial debut, "Come Swim."

Also showcasing their movie in Cannes: Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, Kidman in a long-sleeved sequined Rodarte gown and Fanning in floor-length mint green Gucci with floral applique. They were joined by their castmates of sci-fi romantic comedy "How To Talk To Girls At Parties," who all wore their zany outfits from the movie, including a turquoise latex suit, a caped purple turtleneck, and an orange-and-black bodysuit.

Cannes, France, 19 May 2017

1. Various of Rihanna posing for photographs

2. Close-up Jake Gyllenhaal and Lily Collins, pan to Paul Dano

3. Close-up Tilda Swinton

Cannes, France, 20 May 2017

4. Various, Kendall Jenner arrives on carpet, walks up and poses for cameras

5. Various, Kristen Stewart poses for photographers

6. Medium of Elle Fanning and Nicole Kidman

7. Tilt up, Elle Fanning dress

8. Pan across of cast and crew with (r-l) Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, John Cameron Mitchell, author Neil Gaiman and Alex Sharp

9. Wide of cast walking down red carpet

10. Medium of cast entering Palais de Festivals

STARS INCLUDING SALMA HAYEK, ISABELLE HUPPERT, BENICIO DEL TORO HONOR PATTY JENKINS AT WOMEN IN MOTION EVENT; DISCUSS METOO ERA CANNES

"Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins says Saturday's Cannes protest – in which 82 women climbed the steps of the Palais des Festivals to call attention to gender inequality in the film industry – was "pretty powerful."

The number of stars, filmmakers and film industry professionals ascending the steps represented the number of female filmmakers who have been selected to compete at Cannes during the festival's seven-decade history.

In contrast to their 82, 1,866 films directed by men have been picked for the prestigious festival lineup.

"I think so many years went by that we weren't noticing or talking about these things," said Jenkins Sunday (13 MAY 2018), at Kering's annual "Women In Motion" event, where she was this year's honoree. "To notice it and then do this, you know, have this moment of really paying honor to those women but also helping for more in the future, very powerful."

She added that her generation "grew up thinking that all these things had changed, and were all kind of shocked to suddenly realize, 'wow, are we really…? That's what's been going on this whole time?' But suddenly I feel the conversation and conscious thought about it is so much different. So, I actually feel very hopeful that things are changing."

Cannes has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years over the number of female directors selected into its main slate, considered one of the most esteemed achievements in cinema. Jane Campion is the only female filmmaker to ever win the Palme.

The 71st edition of the glamorous French Riviera extravaganza of cinema and celebrity is also the first of the #MeToo era, which began when allegations of sexual misconduct against movie mogul and Cannes regular Harvey Weinstein hit headlines in October 2017.

Some, including actress Salma Hayek, who was one of the 82 women who took part in Saturday's protest and who also spoke out against Weinstein, said she's noticing changes at this year's festival.

"Yes, definitely," she said. "The conversation is – it's becoming a scream instead of a whisper. And I also see the difference in Hollywood. I see the big difference in Hollywood, and I think it started here in Cannes."

Others were a little more skeptical.

"I have to say that I see just more people talking about it but not yet anything in action," said actress and model Aymeline Valade. "But I guess it will take a while until like things reach the top of the system. But I would say that now we are allowed to speak about it and that is the big change."

Among those at the star-studded event who turned out in support of Jenkins: jury members Cate Blanchett, Ava DuVernay, Kristen Stewart, Denis Villeneuve and Lea Seydoux; actresses Salma Hayek and Isabelle Huppert; and Un Certain Regard jury president Benicio Del Toro.

Cannes, France, 13 May 2018

1. Wide of Cannes skyline

2. Medium wide of "Cannes" signage

3. Medium of "Women In Motion" signage

4. Wide of dining room

5. Wide of inside of dining room

6. Wide of inside of dining room

7. Various of Cate Blanchett posing for photographers

8. Various of Ava DuVernay posing for photographers

9. Various of Kristen Stewart posing for photographers

10. Various of Catherine Deneuve posing for photographers

11. Medium of Salma Hayek posing for photographers

12. Various of Diane Kruger posing for photographers

13. Various of Patty Jenkins posing for photographers

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Patty Jenkins, director – on the 82 women who posed on the Cannes red carpet to highlight gender inequality in the film industry:

"It was pretty powerful, you know. I, interestingly I think so many years went by that we weren't noticing or talking about these things. And to notice it and then do this, you know, have this moment of really paying honor to those women but also helping for more in the future, very powerful."

15. Medium of Patty Jenkins speaking to reporter

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Patty Jenkins, director – on if he's noticed changes in Cannes this year following the MeToo and Time's Up movements:

"I really am, which is strange because I feel like the generation of the '70s that grew up thinking that all these things had changed, and were all kind of shocked to suddenly realize, 'wow, are we really…? That's what's been going on this whole time?' But suddenly I feel the conversation and conscious thought about it is so much different. So, I actually feel very hopeful that things are changing."

17. Fashion shot Salma Hayek

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Salma Hayek, actress - on the 82 women who posed on the Cannes red carpet to highlight gender inequality in the film industry:

"It was very significant for us because to see this happening in the Cannes Film Festival, where four years ago, Kering started the initiative of having the conversation about equality for women and only four years later, it's like a revolution and we see this symbolic number of 82 versus the 1,630-something men that have participated with the film in Cannes. And to be able to be, to witness that and be one of the 82 that are symbolically representing the others was very moving."

19. Medium of Isabelle Huppert posing for photographers

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Isabelle Huppert, actress - on the 82 women who posed on the Cannes red carpet to highlight gender inequality in the film industry:

"Well I thought it was a beautiful image having Cate and Agnes Varda who have been really fighting for women's rights ever since she started being a filmmaker herself and so I thought it was a great symbol to have all these women on the red carpet in Cannes."

21. Medium of Golshifteh Farahani and husband Christos Dorje Walker posing for photographers

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Golshifteh Farahani, actress – on the 82 women who posed on the Cannes red carpet to highlight gender inequality in the film industry (the protest took place at the premiere for "Children of the Sun," which Farahani stars in):

"That was wonderful. I mean it's like you know, you throw a stone in the water, it starts with small circles, but it becomes bigger. It may touch women in factories that they don't have any protection. So, we are very protected in our world of cinema, very privileged people, so I hope that these movements is going to touch women that they really need the support."

23. Medium of Salma Hayek posing for photographers with husband Francois-Henri Pinault and actor Benicio Del Toro

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Salma Hayek, actress – on if she's noticed changes in Cannes this year following the MeToo and Time's Up movements:

(Reporter: "Are you noticing any differences in Cannes this year?")

"Yes. Well, that was quite palpable but, you know, yes, definitely. And the conversation is – it's becoming a scream instead of a whisper. And I also see the difference in Hollywood. I see the big difference in Hollywood, and I think it started here in Cannes."

25. Various of Leititia Casta posing for photographers

26. Various of Benicio Del Toro posing for photographers

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Benicio Del Toro, actor - on if he's noticed changes in Cannes this year following the MeToo and Time's Up movements:

"Well I think it's, I think it's the right thing. It, it feels that it's already changed. In so little time it's already changed and I think it's a really, it's the right thing. There's no… there's no turning back, put it that way."

28. Various of Mads Mikkelsen and wife Hanne Jacobsen posing for photographers

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Mads Mikkelsen, actor - on if he's noticed changes in Cannes this year following the MeToo and Time's Up movements:

"I'm not sure if that's the reason why there's not that many people on the Croisette. That means that real French acting was part of that? I don't know. No. I mean, I don't know. I mean, we all want to fight abuse, we all want to fight assault. But we have to find a balance, we have to also figure out that the court has something to say before we just accuse each other. That doesn't mean I defend anyone. But we cannot through it out with the bathing water."

30. Medium of Khadja Nin speaking to reporter

31. Various of Denis Villeneuve and producer wife Tanya Lapointe posing for photographers

32. Medium of Cannes Film Festival director Theirry Fremaux posing for photographers

33. SOUNDBITE (English) Thierry Fremaux, Cannes Film Festival director - on if he's noticed changes in Cannes this year following the MeToo and Time's Up movements:

"It's not about Cannes, it's about the world. So, I think that, as I said, the world is not the same, so yeah, I think that for a lot of reasons, not only in cinema and in Cannes but especially in cinema, especially in Cannes, we need to pay attention to things we forgot – no – I think we never paid attention and now things are different and it's good. And it's good to yesterday to have these women reminding to the world what is important sometimes in life and equality is like human being rights."

34. Medium of Agnes Varda posing for photographers

35. Medium of Chloe Sevigny posing for photographers

36. Medium of Aymeline Valade speaking to reporter

37. SOUNDBITE (English) Aymeline Valade, model/actress – on if she's noticed changes in Cannes this year following the MeToo and Time's Up movements:

"I have to say that I see just more people talking about it but not yet anything in action. But I guess it will take a while until like things reach the top of the system. But I would say that now we are allowed to speak about it and that is the big change."

38. SOUNDBITE (English) Patty Jenkins, director, on being honored by women in motion:

"What a huge honor. To have had any kind of impact on women in this industry is, you know, a dream."

(Reporter: "And just quickly, what can you tell us about 'Wonder Woman 2?')

"Nothing! It's going great. I know, thank you."

39. Medium of Patty Jenkins posing for photographers

Cannes, France, 8 May 2018

1. Wide, zoom in of Cate Blanchett arriving at press conference

2. Medium shot Kristen Stewart sitting down

3. Pan of jury (left-right) Lea Seydoux, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Ava DuVernay, Denis Villeneuve, Cate Blanchett and Robert Guediguian

4. Close-up Kristen Stewart and Chang Chen

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett, jury president/actress:

"(It) was one of the first questions I said to Thierry (Fremaux - Cannes director), I said, you know, 'We really do have to have gender parity and racial diversity on the'… I don't chose the jury, but 'on the jury.' And he said, 'But we do.' And in Thierry's time there have always been, you know, there's a female head of jury, then there are four men and four women. So it just happens that I've tipped the balance. Sorry."

6. Pan across presser

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Cate Blanchett, jury president/actress:

"We are not always going to be in concord and agreement. The world would be terribly boring if it was, you know? I think that those aspects of the festival are things to be enjoyed but, you know, in an equal, fair and equitable way."

8. Wide shot end of press conference

JAPANESE DRAMA 'SHOPLIFTERS' WINS CANNES' PALME D'OR

Japanese director Hizokazu Kore-eda's tender portrait of a poor, improvised family "Shoplifters" has won the Palme d'Or, the top award at the Cannes Film Festival.

In the Cannes closing ceremony Saturday (19 MAY 2018), the Cate Blanchett-led jury selected one of the festival's most acclaimed entries, one hailed as a modest masterpiece from a veteran filmmaker renowned for his delicate touch. "Shoplifters" is about a small-time thief who takes a young girl home to his family; after seeing scars from abuse, they decide to keep her and raise her as their own.

While many speculated that the Cate Blanchett-led jury might award only the second Palme d'Or to a film directed by a woman, the most likely contender — Lebanese director Nadine Labaki's "Capernaum" — was instead given Cannes' jury prize. The film drew a rousing standing ovation but less enthusiastic critic reviews for its tale of a 12-year-old boy living in poverty who sues his parents for neglect.

Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman," the highest profile American film in competition at Cannes, was awarded the grand prize. The film ignited the French Riviera festival with its true tale of a black police detective who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. Lee connected the film to modern day with real footage from last year's violent white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The 12-day festival, the first since the downfall of film mogul Harvey Weinstein (for decades an annual fixture in Cannes), was shaken by debate over gender equality in the film industry and at Cannes. In a striking rally, 82 women — the same number of female filmmakers to ever be selected to Cannes competition lineup — stood on the Palais red-carpet steps, as Cate Blanchett said, "a symbol of our determination to change and progress."

Some changes were swift. Just days later, with Blanchett's jury looking on, Cannes' Artistic Director Thierry Fremaux signed a pledge to make the festival's selection process more transparent and promised other measures to improve the festival's record of including female filmmakers. Three of this year's 21 films in competition were directed by women.

It was also a part of Saturday's closing ceremony. With a fist raised high on the red carpet, Italian filmmaker and actress Asia Argento attended the ceremony. Argento has said Weinstein raped her at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997. (Weinstein has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex.)

"In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground," said Argento at the ceremony. "I want to make a prediction: Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again."

Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski took best director for his follow-up to the Oscar-winning "Ida," ?Cold War." Like "Ida," ?Cold War" is a black-and-white period film that delves into Polish history. It's about an up-and-down romance in post-war Poland and Paris, behind and outside the Soviet Iron Curtain.

Best actress went to Samal Yeslyamova for Kazakh writer-director Sergey Dvortsevoy's "Ayka." Taking best actor was Marcello Fonte for Matteo Garrone's "Dogman," an award that was presented by fellow Italian actor Roberto Benigni.

The prize for best screenplay was split between Italian writer-director Alice Rohrwacher's time-warped fable about a poor farm boy in rural Italy "Happy as Lazzaro" and Nader Saeivar and Jafar Panahi's script for "Three Faces."

Panahi has been banned from traveling outside Iran since he was arrested for participating in "propaganda against the regime" in 2010 after supporting mass protests over the country's disputed 2009 election. Both Panahi and Russia's Kirill Serebrennikov were unable to attend their Cannes premieres because both are barred from traveling out of their home countries. Seats were left empty for both, who received standing ovations in absentia.

A "Palme d'Or Speciale," a special award not previously awarded, was given to Jean-Luc Godard for "continually striving to define and refine what cinema can be," said Blanchett. Godard's "Image Book" is a film essay collage that contemplates the West's relationship to the Arab world. The 87-year-old French filmmaking legend called into his Cannes press conference via FaceTime.

The closing ceremony was held ahead of the premiere of Terry Gilliam's "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote." Famously victim to countless delays and debacles, the film took nearly 30 years for Gilliam to complete. And its Cannes premiere was still almost canceled because of an injunction sought by producer Paolo Branco, who insisted the festival needed his permission. French courts last week denied Branco's request, allowing the screening to move forward.

Last year's Palme d'Or winner was Ruben Ostlund's "The Square," which went on to be nominated for best foreign language film at the Academy Awards.

Cannes, France, 19 May 2018

1. Wide shot, pan red carpet

2. Pan from press to Asia Argento

3. Pan from press to Asia Argento raising fist

4. Medium Sting and Shaggy

5. Medium Roberto Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi

6. Tilt up Valery Kaufman

7. Medium John Savage

8. Medium shot Samal Yesyamova and Sergey Dvortsevoy

9. Pan from press to Un Certain Regard jury (L-R) Kantemir Balagov, Annemarie Jacri, Virginie Ledoyen, Benicio Del Toro

10. Pan of above

11. Pan from press to wide of "Cold War" arrivals

12. Medium Gary Oldman and Gisele Schmidt, tilt up to press

13. Medium Marcello Fonte and Matteo Garrone

14. Wide Marcello Fonte and Matteo Garrone

15. Pan from press to Adrien Brody and Caroline Scheufele

16. Wide Nadine Labaki and arrivals for "Capernaum"

17. Tilt up Behnaz Jafari, Mastaneh Mohajer and guest

18. Tilt up photographer to Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis, joined by Laure Harrier and Barry Alexander Brown

19. Cutaway press

20. Wide Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis, Laure Harrier and Barry Alexander Brown

21. Pan from press to Hirozaku Kore-Eda

22. Pan from photographer to wide of jury including Denis Villeneuve, Chang Chen, Ava DuVernay, Lea Seydoux, Kristen Stewart, Khadja Nin, Andrey Zvyagintsev and Robert Guediguian.

23. Cutaway photographers

24. Wide of jury pan to Cate Blanchett posing for photos

25. Various jury

26. Cutaway photographers

27. Pan of jury

28. Various jury

29. Medium Lea Seydoux

30. Various of jury on steps

31. Wide of arrivals "The Man That Killed Don Quixote" arrivals

32. Cutaway photographers

33. Wide of "The Man That Killed Don Quixote" arrivals including Jordi Molla, Sergi Lopez, Rossy De Palma, Olga Kurylenko, Adam Driver, Terry Gilliam, Joana Ribeiro, Jonathan Pryce.

34. Cutaway press

35. Various "The Man That Killed Don Quixote" arrivals

36. Wide of red carpets

36. Various of "The Man That Killed Don Quixote" arrivals on steps and entering theater

Cannes - 12 May 2018

1. Medium shot of Salma Hayek, Sofia Boutella, Patty Jenkins on the red carpet at the protest

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Salma Hayek, actress – on if she's noticed changes in Cannes this year following the MeToo and Time's Up movements:

"The conversation is – it's becoming a scream instead of a whisper. And I also see the difference in Hollywood. I see the big difference in Hollywood, and I think it started here in Cannes."

3. Zoom out of Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux, Khadja Nin, Ava DuVernay and Cate Blanchett, Agnes Varda on red carpet

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Isabelle Huppert, actress - on the 82 women who posed on the Cannes red carpet to highlight gender inequality in the film industry:

"Well I thought it was a beautiful image having Cate and Agnes Varda who have been really fighting for women's rights ever since she started being a filmmaker herself and so I thought it was a great symbol to have all these women on the red carpet in Cannes."

5. Wide shot to pan of actresses cheering on the steps on the red carpet

Cannes, France, 12 May 2018

1. Various of women including Kristen Stewart, Salma Hayek, Cate Blanchett, Ava DuVernay and Lea Seydoux walking the red carpet in protest

2. UPSOUND (English) Cate Blanchett, actress, jury president:

"We all face our own unique challenges but we stand together on these steps today as a symbol of our determination and our commitment to progress. We are writers, we are producers, we are directors, actresses, cinematographers, talent agent, editors, distributors, sales agents and all of us are involved in the cinematic arts. And we stand today in solidarity with women of all industries."

3. Various of Eighty two film industry professionals clapping and holding hands in the air

4. Tilt down from front of Palais des Festivals to wide of women clapping on the steps

HANEKE'S 'AMOUR' WINS TOP PRIZE AT CANNES

The Cannes Film Festival rewarded one of its favorite directors Sunday, as Michael Haneke won the top prize for a second time with his stark film about love and death, "Amour."

The Austrian director's powerful and understated film stars two French acting icons - 85-year-old Emmanuelle Riva and 81-year-old Jean-Louis Trintignant - as an elderly couple coping with the wife's worsening health.

Haneke said he made the film because "I experienced something in my family that touched me."

Some viewers were surprised by the humanity of the film, coming from a master of tightly controlled cinema whose movies often contain sudden bursts of violence.

The director said his reputation for delivering shocks was unjust.

"Journalists always try to stick a label on directors," he said. "For a long time I've been the expert in violence."

But he said the style of a film should suit its subject, and "this film is about love."

Haneke has brought 10 films to Cannes over the years, including "Funny Games" and "Hidden."

He previously won the Palme in 2009 for "The White Ribbon," and is the seventh director to take the top prize twice.

The festival jury awarded the second-place Grand Prize to Matteo Garrone's Italian satire "Reality," while Ken Loach's whiskey-tasting comedy "The Angels' Share" won the third-place Jury Prize.

"Very nerve-racking because you have to say a few words in French and my French is pal bon, ne pal bon. So that is always very nerve-racking. If your name is called. They can always change their mind," said Loach of hearing his name called.

Both have won Cannes prizes before - Garrone took the Grand Prize for "Gomorrah" in 2008 and Loach won the Palme d'Or in 2006 for "The Wind That Shakes the Barley."

Mexico's Carlos Reygadas was named best director for his surrealism-tinged family story "Post Tenebras Lux."

"This is a good day in my work. But the happiest days in my life are the days when I don't think about anything I just walk around with my dogs and my children. Those are the happy days. But this is a good day too. I'm very thankful for those who support me and go and watch my films," said Reygadas.

The best actor prize went to Mads Mikkelsen as a man ostracized by his small-town community when he is accused of child abuse in "The Hunt."

"Actually it was like, oh that's me. I didn't anticipate it. I was getting ready to applaud everybody else because there are so many fantastic actors this year. And then I got really touched and I could hardly say anything which is really rare for me because I'm normally very cool," said Mikkelsen.

Jury member Ewan McGregor said Mikkelsen had given a beautiful performance whose "wonder is in the subtlety ... but with complete conviction with his character."

Best actress was won jointly by Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan, as friends separated by faith in Romanian movie "Beyond the Hills." The actresses were overwhelmed by the legends in competition.

"Oh I admire very much Marion Cotillard and Isabelle Huppert. It's an honor," Stratan.

"I don't think we had time to realize that we are there with all those people that we admire. We didn't have time to realize it. No," said Flutur.

Cristian Mungiu's drama of love and faith in a remote Romanian monastery also won the award for best screenplay.

The prize winners were chosen from among 22 contenders by a jury, led by Italian director Nanni Moretti that included actors Ewan McGregor and Diane Kruger, director Alexander Payne and fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Moretti revealed that none of the winners had been a unanimous choice, with several films sharply dividing the jury.

He said the biggest fights had been over Leos Carax's bizarre and episodic "Holy Motors," Ulrich Seidl's sex tourism drama "Paradise: Love" and Reygadas' "Post Tenebras Lux," whose title means "light after the darkness."

The 12-day festival has seen plenty of glamour, with the likes of Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart appearing both on-screen and on the red carpet.

But in the movies, weighty themes dominated at an event whose French Riviera froth was subdued by several days of unseasonable rain and cold.

Despite a strong American flavor to the festival, U.S. films were shut out apart from Benh Zeitli's "Beasts of the Southern Wild," which won the Camera d'Or for best first film.

The jury overlooked Pitt, who plays a cynical mob enforcer in Andrew Dominik's "Killing Them Softly," and Kidman as a Southern femme fatale in Lee Daniels' "The Paperboy."

Payne said it would be wrong to draw any conclusions about the state of a nation's cinema "based on one tiny snapshot."

Other much-praised performances at the festival included Marion Cotillard's tragedy-struck killer-whale trainer in "Rust and Bone," newcomer Paul Brannigan's scrappy Glasgow lad in "The Angels' Share" and Denis Lavant, as a performer who takes on a host of bizarre personas in "Holy Motors."

AP Entertainment

Cannes, France, 27 May 2012

1. Wide of press conference with Michael Haneke

2. SOUNDBITE (French) Michael Haneke, director (on being a romantic): "Of course. One always has to try to express optimally the subject of the film. The film talks about love. Journalists always try to stick a label on directors and say well he is an expert in this, a specialist in that. For a long time I've been the expert in violence. It is not a question of me it's a question of the subject."

3. Photographer cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (French) Michael Haneke, director (on the theme of the film resonating with him on a personal level): "It in fact is a way of saying that we should have a promise. We should have a promise that we won't leave each other in the way you see in the film. It's a very harsh, difficult problem to contend with and we said we wouldn't do this. That's why I referred to what I did. I experienced somethin

g similar in my family, which touched me a great deal and it's for that reason that I started this film. All these things are interlinked."

5. Wide of winners including Carlos Reygadas speaking to reporters

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Carlos Reygadas, director: "This is a good day in my work. But the happiest days in my life are the days when I don't think about anything I just walk around with my dogs and my children. Those are the happy days. But this is a good day too. I'm very thankful for those who support me and go and watch my films."

7. Wide of Mads Mikkelsen speaking to reporters

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mads Mikkelsen, actor (on hearing his name called): "Actually it was like, oh that's me. I didn't anticipate it. I was getting ready to applaud everybody else because there are so many fantastic actors this year. And then I got really touched and I could hardly say anything which is really rare for me because I'm normally very cool."

9. Wide of Ken Loach speaking to reporters

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Ken Loach, director (on how it felt to hear his name called): "Very nerve-racking because you have to say a few words in French and my French is pal bon, ne pal bon. So that is always very nerve-racking if your name is called. They can always change their mind."

11. Wide of Cristian Mungiu

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Cristian Mungiu, director: "And this is the most difficult thing for a filmmaker, for a young filmmaker. Not only to hit once with a film because you can surprise people once. But try to surprise people twice. So I hope that little by little we are going to be able to preserve this level and find interesting stories that will make people ask questions about themselves."

13. Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur speak to reporters

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Cosmina Stratan, actress (on fellow actresses in competition): "Oh I admire very much Marion Cotillard and Isabelle Huppert. It's an honor."

SOUNDBITE (English) Cristina Flutur, actress: "I don't think we had time to realize that we are there with all those people that we admire. We didn't have time to realize it. No."

Cosmina Stratan: "I grew up watching Isabelle Huppert's movies and it's a great source of inspiration for me."

15. Wide of Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur holding awards