Nicolas Winding Refn takes home Best Director at Cannes for DRIVE

Though most of the winners at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival include a “who’s who” of art-house favorites, namely Lars Von Trier (Melancholia) and Terrence Malick (Tree of Life), there was one name that took home a prize that surprised a lot of people.  Even though, we in the cult/horror film community may respect him for his excellent previous films The Pusher Trilogy, Bronson, and Valhalla Rising, many people are still left wondering who is Nicolas Winding Refn?  Well, hopefully with the upcoming release from this Danish sensation, Drive will push him to another level of notoriety.  Drive stars Ryan Gosling as a Hollywood stunt performer who moonlights as a wheelman that discovers a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.  Refn took home Best Director at Cannes for the film which is set for a September 16, 2011 release.  Keep reading to see more winners from this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

Besides Gosling, Drive also stars Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks, Albert Brooks, and Ron Perlman.  Nicolas Winding Refn is currently busy working in pre-production on two films, Only God Forgives and a remake of Logan’s Run (which is also set to star Ryan Gosling).  Both are set to be released next year.

Below you can read who else took home an award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival as well as an early promotional poster for Drive.

 

Palme d’Or (Best Film): The Tree Of Life (dir: Terrence Malick)

Grand Prix (Runner-up to main award): (tie) Kid With A Bike (dir: Dardenne brothers), Once Upon A Time In Anatolia (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin (The Artist)

Mise en Scene (Best Director): Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive)

Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia)

Prix du Scenario (Screenplay): Joseph Cedar, Footnote (Israel)

Prix Du Jury: Poliss (dir: Maiwenn)

Palme d’Or Court Metrage: Cross Country (dir: Maryna Vroda)

Camera d’Or (Best First Film): Las Acacias (dir: Pablo Giorgelli)