The comedy, about sheep farmers, was awarded the top honour at the second most important competition of the festival by a jury headed up by Italian actress Isabella Rossellini.

Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa was named Best Director for his film Journey to the Shore (Kishibe No Tabi), while Croatian film The High Sun (Zvizdan) won the Jury Prize and the Un Certain Talent honour was handed to Romanian Corneliu Porumboiu for The Treasure (Comoara).

The main Cannes Film Festival competition winners will be announced on Sunday (24May15) at the closing ceremony at Palais des Festivals by jury presidents Joel and Ethan Coen.