Pitt's film is Cannes hit

Brad's new movie wins top award, despite audience boos...

09:31 23 May 2011

Brad Pitt's new film The Tree of Life has won the top prize at the 64th Cannes Film Festival, despite mixed reactions from audiences.

The drama, which stars Pitt and Sean Penn, beat 17 other nominees to collect the top award at this year's prestigious event.

The announcement was made by jury president Robert DeNiro to Pitt and his co-star Penn, due to director Terrence Malick's absence.

Other big winners included Kirsten Dunst, who won Best Actress for her role in Lars Von Trier's film, Melancholia.

The controversial director had been banned from this year's festival, after he made remarks about sympathising with Hitler.

In the film, Dunst plays a newly-wed bride who instantly regrets her marriage, while at the same time the planet Earth is on collision course with another planet.

French actor Jean Dujardin was named Best Actor for his performance in silent black and white comedy, The Artist.

Best Director went to Nicholas Winding for his movie Drive, starring Ryan Gosling.