Garage wins at Cannes

RTÉ reports that Garage, directed by Lenny Abrahamson and written by Mark O'Halloran, has won the CICAE Art and Essai Cinema Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

CICAE is the International Confederation of Art House Cinemas and the jury is made up of representatives of its members.

Commenting on 'Garage's win, director Lenny Abrahamson said: "I am totally delighted with this award coming after such a fantastic reception for the film at Cannes. It's the best possible launch for its journey around the world."

Mark O'Halloran is a member of the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild, and the Guild offers him its heartfelt congratulations.

The Palme d'Or was presented to writer/director Cristian Mungiu for 4 Luni, 3 Saptamani Si 2 Zile (4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days).

The runner up Grand Prix went to Naomi Kawase for Mogari No Mori (The Mourning Forest), which she wrote and directed.

The Best Director award went to Julian Schnabel for Le Scaphandre et le papillon (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) which was written by Ronald Harwood, based on a novel by Jean-Dominique Bauby.

German-Turkish writer and director Fatih Akin won the Best Screenplay award for Yasamin kiyisinda (The Edge of Heaven).