Cannes lauds Moore film

It is the anti-establishment film which George Bush feared and Disney did its best to bury.

But the Cannes festival ensured that director Michael Moore's anti-Bush documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 will go anything but quietly.

Thanks to a jury headed by Quentin Tarantino, it won the prestigious Palme d'Or best film award - ensuring it will be widely seen around the world.

'What have you done? I'm completely overwhelmed,' Moore said in his acceptance speech. 'I want to make sure those who died in Iraq have not died in vain. You will ensure that the American people will see this movie.'

Fahrenheit 9/11 explores the Iraq war and alleges connections between President Bush and top Saudi families, including the Bin Ladens. It is the first documentary to win since Jacques Cousteau's The Silent World in 1956.

Among other winners were Yagira Yuuya, a Japanese boy of 14 who was named best actor for his role in Nobody Knows. He had returned to Tokyo as he did not expect to win.