Haneke wins Cannes top prize

Haneke wins Cannes top prize NEWS

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Austrian director Michael Haneke has been awarded the Cannes film festival's most prestigious prize for the second time.

Haneke's film Love has been named winner of the Palme d'Or. The film has been widely hailed as 'touching', exploring the topic of love and death in old age.

It is the second time Haneke has been awarded the Palme d'Or, previously winning in 2009 for The White Ribbon.

Haneke's film was centred around an elderly married couple whose relationship is tested when the wife suffers a number of strokes. Love was an early favourite for the prestigious prize when it was shown in Cannes last week.

'This film is an illustration of the promise we made to each other, if either one of us finds ourselves in the situation that is described in the film,' said Haneke upon receiving the award.

Haneke was joined on stage by French actors Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva, who played the elderly married couple.

Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen was awarded the best actor prize for his role in The Hunt. The actress prize was shared between Romanian actresses Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan for Beyond the Hills.

Britain did not leave Cannes empty handed as director Ken Loach collected the Jury Prize for The Angels' Share.

The Angels' Share is a dramatic comedy in which a group of young offenders visiting a whiskey distillery find themselves inspired to change their lives.

The jury comprised of stars and top directors including Ewan McGregor, Andrea Arnold and Diane Kruger. Head judge Italian director Nanni Moretti said none of the winners received a unanimous verdict.