'Ribbon' takes Palme d'Or at Cannes

CANNES, France, May 25 (UPI) -- Michael Haneke Sunday won the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or, for his black-and-white drama "The White Ribbon."

The movie is set in a rural German village shortly before World War I begins.

"Happiness is a rare thing, but this is a moment in my life when I am truly happy," Variety.com quoted Haneke as saying during his acceptance speech.

Haneke previously won the director award for his film "Cache" and the Grand Prix for "The Piano Teacher."

This year's Grand Prix award was bestowed upon Jacques Audiard's prison drama, "A Prophet," and the director honor went to Brillante Mendoza for "Kinatay."

Christoph Waltz won the actor prize for his work in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" and Charlotte Gainsbourg picked up the actress honor for her performance a in "Antichrist."

Tying for the international competition jury prize were Andrea Arnold's "Fish Tank" and Park Chan-wook's "Thirst."

Warwick Thornton's "Samson and Delilah" earned the Camera d'Or for first film.

Filmmaker Alain Resnais was presented with a lifetime achievement award for his work and contributions to the history of cinema, Variety.com said.