'The Class' wins top prize at Lumiere Awards

Laurent Cantet's acclaimed drama "Entre les murs" (The Class) picked up the award for best picture Monday at France's Lumiere Awards.

Based on the book by François Bégaudeau, the film documents daily life in a junior high school classroom. "Entre les murs" also won the presitious Palme d’Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

The award for best director went to François Dupeyron for his comedy "Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera" (With a Little Help from Myself), about a family of immigrants living outside of Paris.

Meanwhile, the prize for best screenplay was awarded to Samuel Benchetrit for "J'ai toujours rêvé d'être un gangster" (I Always Wanted to Be a Gangster), which also took home the World Cinema Screenwriting Award at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Vincent Cassell was named best actor for "Mesrine," while Yolande Moreau won best actress for "Séraphine." Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne won the award for the best francophone movie for "Le Silence de Lorna."

Source: AP