Terrence Malick’s latest film, The Tree of Life, was arguably the most talked-about movie heading into this year’s Cannes Film Festival with expectations sky-high for many cinephiles. Despite the mixed reactions it received at screenings, the film was awarded the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, over the weekend. Other favorites in contention for the top honor included the Tilda Swinton starring We Need to Talk About Kevin and the silent black-and-white film The Artist, which walked away with the Best Actor Award for Jean Dujardin. Ultimately, though, the jury, headed by Robert De Niro, chose the auteur’s opus on life – a choice that will undoubtedly delight some and anger others who don’t care for Malick’s style of filmmaking.

Other big winners at Cannes included Kirsten Dunst for Best Actress in Melancholia (perhaps Lars Von Trier has gotten the last laugh after all), and, in a somewhat surprising choice, Nicolas Winding Refn took Best Director honors for Drive. Overall, this year’s festival seems to have been an interesting one and I look forward to viewing many of the films from the competition. For a full list of winners, check after the break.

• Palme d’Or: The Tree Of Life (dir: Terrence Malick)
• Grand Prix (Runner-up to main award): (tie) Kid With A Bike (dir: Dardenne brothers), Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)
• Mise en Scene (Best Director): Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive)
• Best Actor: Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
• Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia)
• Prix du Scenario (Screenplay): Joseph Cedar, Footnote (Israel)
• Prix Du Jury: Poliss (dir: Maiwenn)
• Palme d’Or Court Metrage: Cross Country (dir: Maryna Vroda)
• Camera d’Or (Best First Film): Las Acacias (dir: Pablo Giorgelli)