Jacques Audiard's Dheepan has won the highest award at this year's Cannes Film Festival by claiming the Palme d'Or.

The French drama won the prize earlier today (May 24) in a shock decision as the 68th annual festival drew to a close.

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Audiard's previous films include 2009's A Prophet and 2012's romantic drama Rust and Bone, which starred Matthias Schoenaerts and Marion Cotillard.

Elsewhere, the Camera d'Or, which celebrates the Best First Feature Film, went to La Tierra Y La Sombra, while Best Screenplay went to Michel Franco for Chronic.

The Jury Prize was awarded to Yorgos Lanthimos' The Lobster, while the Grand Jury Prize was won by Laszlo Nemes' Son Of Saul.

In another surprising move, the award for Best Actress was shared by Rooney Mara (Carol) and Emmanuelle Bercot (Mon Roi).

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Meanwhile, Vincent London won Best Actor for his role in The Measure of Man and Best Director went to Hou Hsiao-hsien for his work on The Assassin.

Hungarian Holocaust drama Son of Saul was previously named Best Film by FIPRESCI at the festival.