Laurent Cantet’s French drama “The Class,” a film based on François Bégaudeau's book about life in a junior high-school classroom, won the prestigious Palme d’Or Sunday at the 61st edition of the Cannes Film Festival.

The fest’s grand prize was awarded to Matteo Garrone’s Italian drama “Gomorrah,” a look at crime families operating out of Naples. Paolo Sorrentino’s “Il Divo,” a biopic about former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, took home the jury award.

Benicio Del Toro was named best actor for his portrayal of Che Guevara in Steven Soderbergh’s double feature “Che,” which focuses on the Argentine revolutionary's successful plan to overthrow the Cuban government in the 1950s, as well as his capture and execution by the Bolivian government in 1967.

In the best actress category, Sandra Corveloni won top honors for her role in Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas’ drama “Linha de Passe,” about a mother of four brothers struggling to improve their lifestyle in a poor Brazilian neighborhood.

Turkish helmer Nuri Bilge Ceylan won the best director award for his drama “Three Monkeys,” in which a father agrees to take the blame for his employer’s criminal activities in exchange for money. 

Belgian directors Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, who previously won the Palme d’Or for 1999’s “Rosetta” and “The Child” in 2005, snatched the best screenplay prize for “Lorna’s Silence,” a drama about a woman who engages in a fake marriage to receive Belgian citizenship. 

The jury presided by Sean Penn also handed out special awards to Clint Eastwood for his drama “Changeling,” and to French actress Catherin Deneuve, who starred in two films at this year’s edition of the Cannes Festival.

Other winners included Steve McQueen, who won best first-time director for “Hunger;” Sergey Dvortsevoy, who took home the “Un Certain Regard” prize for “Tulpan,” and Marian Crisan, who won the Palme d’Or for the best short film with “Megatron.”