The 61st Cannes Film Festival is almost drawing to a close. Late on Saturday, the awards in the prestigious Un Certain Regard section were announced. Not surprisingly, Tulpan, an unique co-production from Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Poland and Kazakstan and directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy, lifted the covetous prize of Un Certain Regard that is instituted by Fondation Groupama Gan Pour Le Cinema. The jubilant director, with his co-producers and actors were present to accept the award.

The jury presided over by German filmmaker Fatih Akin, including Indian film critic Anupama Chopra announced the Un Certain Regard awards in Salle Debussy. Fatih Akin said that in the past 12 days, Salle Debussy had almost become the home to the jury and they enjoyed watching the films with the audience. All the films had exciting response from the participants. He added that the quality of films was very high and it was very difficult for the jury to select the films for the awards. Hence, they had to request the festival authorities to increase the number of awards from three to five, which they readily agreed to.

Kurosawa Kiyoshi's Japanese film Tokyo Sonata was awarded the jury prize. Wolke 9, the German film by Andreas Dresen, won the Heart Throb Jury Prize (Coup de coeur du Jury). The Knockout of Un Certain Regard prize went to Tyson by James Toback. Toback is an Oscar nominee for his previous films. The Prize of Hope was awarded to Johhny Mad Dog by Jean Stephane Sauvair. Thierry Fremaux, director of festival introduced the jury and expressed his happiness at the way Un Certain Regard section has grown in strength over time.