[4][5] Turkish filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama film Winter Sleep.

[8] The festival opened with Grace of Monaco by Olivier Dahan,[9][10] and closed with a restored 4K version of Sergio Leone's 1964 western A Fistful of Dollars.

Prior to the start of Cannes, Winter Sleep was considered the favorite to win the Palme d'Or, but when it was shown it met with mixed critical reaction.

[45] Some found it to be too long (at 3 hours 16 minutes, it was the longest film at the festival) and difficult to finish, while others called it a great revelation.

"[45] Winter Sleep is the story of Mr. Aydin (played by Haluk Bilginer), a former actor who now runs mountaintop hotel, and his failing marriage.

When the slow season approaches the guests depart, the fighting between Aydin, his wife, his sister who lives with him, and the village people begins.

Julianne Moore won the best actress prize or her portrayal of a demented Hollywood diva in Maps to the Stars.