Thai film takes Cannes top prize

Iran's harried film-makers took centre stage in Cannes Tuesday as Abbas Kiarostami presented his latest work, while back home his colleague Jafar Panahi languished in a Tehran jail.Kiarostami, who took the Palme d'Or here in 1997 but whose films are censored at home, presented "Certified Copy," about an English writer hitting it off in Italy with an art dealer played by French star Juliette Binoche.The film, the first that the director has shot outside Iran, is one of the 19 movies in the race for the Palme top prize to be handed out on Sunday.

Iran's Abbas Kiarostami shaped up as a possible two-time winner of the Cannes film festival's top prize Monday with his first film shot in Europe."Certified Copy," starring French actress Juliette Binoche, won a round of enthusiastic applause at a packed press screening here a day before its red carpet premiere.Kiarostami, 69, who won the Palme d'Or in 1997 with "Taste of Cherry," cast English opera singer William Shimell, who had never previously acted in a film, as the male lead in a bleak tale set in Italy's Tuscany region.

A surreal tale of the afterlife with giant monkeys and an erotic catfish has scored gold for Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul at the Cannes film festival, in a rare win for Asia."Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" took Cannes' top award, the Palme d'Or, at the prizegiving which also saw Spaniard Javier Bardem and France's Juliette Binoche add Cannes acting awards to their Oscars.

A surreal tale of the afterlife with giant monkeys and an erotic catfish has scored gold for Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul at the Cannes film festival, in a rare win for Asia."Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives" took Cannes' top award, the Palme d'Or, at the prizegiving which also saw Spaniard Javier Bardem and France's Juliette Binoche add Cannes acting awards to their Oscars.

Abbas Kiarostami, in Cannes to present his latest movie, called Tuesday for the release of fellow Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi who is being held in a Tehran jail."The fact that a film-maker has been imprisoned is in itself intolerable," he said at a press conference after his "Certified Copy," starring French actress Juliette Binoche, was screened at the film festival here.

The Thai film "Uncle Boonmee" won the top honor at the Cannes Film Festival. Academy Award winners Juliette Binoche and Javier Bardem earned acting honors.

The Thai film "Uncle Boonmee" won the top honor at the Cannes Film Festival. Academy Award winners Juliette Binoche and Javier Bardem earned acting honors.

Acclaimed Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami has revealed that the political climate in his homeland is forcing him to work overseas.Speaking on the sidelines of the 15th Pusan International Film Festival, Kiarostami said the situation saddened him but that he had to accept it as he wanted to continue making films.His latest film, "Certified Copy" was shot in Italy and the director said he was now looking further afield for his next production."I think my next film will be done somewhere around here, whether that be South Korea or in Japan," said the 70 year-old.