Jacques Audiard's "Dheepan" wins Palme d'Or at Cannes

French director Jacques Audiard's "Dheepan", a drama about a family of Sri Lankan refugees in Paris, was the surprise winner of Palme d'Or at the 68th Cannes Film Festival.

Audiard acknowledged Michael Haneke in his speech after winning the top award at the prestigious movie gala that ended last night.

"Thank you, Michael Haneke, for not making a film this year," the director said referring to Haneke's "The White Ribbon" and "Amour", which had beaten him in the competition.

"Dheepan", starring debutants Antonythasan Jesuthasan and Kalieaswari Srinivasan, faced some booes and shrugs when it was announced as the winner.

French actor Vincent Lindon was named the best actor for his role of a common man in "The Measure of a Man" and Emmanuelle Bercot best actress for "Mon roi". She shared the award with Rooney Mara for her role in lesbian drama "Carol",, reported Variety.

Laszlo Nemes' Holocaust drama "Son of Saul" received the Grand Prix award, the competition's runner-up prize.

Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien won the best director award for "The Assassin", a martial-arts drama set in ninth-century China.

The jury prize went to Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos for "The Lobster"

Mexican writer-director Michel Franco received the screenplay award for "Chronic".

The Camera d'Or for best first film was awarded to Cesar Augusto Acevedo's well reviewed "Land and Shade", about a Colombian family dwelling in a flame-engulfed farmland.

French director Agnes Varda became the first female recipient of the honorary Palme.