(Cannes, FRA) - 1827 GMT: And we're wrapping up our live report now, after 11 days of films and glamour among the palm trees, and one acclaimed winner: the three-hour-long, sexually graphic lesbian love story "Blue is the Warmest Colour" by Abdellatif Kechiche.
The film, which critics praised as offering much more than its eyebrow-raising sex scenes, was the talk of the festival.
But it beat other strong contenders including the Coen brothers' dark comedy "Inside Llewyn Davis", which won the Grand Prix runner-up award.
Mexico's Amat Escalante won the best director prize for the ultra-violent "Heli", about his country's blood-drenched drug wars, while French actress Berenice Bejo claimed best actress honours for "The Past" and veteran Bruce Dern won best actor for "Nebraska".
Time now to roll up the red carpet and head home -- see you next year. LIVE REPORT ENDS.
1832 GMT: Our main AFP story notes that the jury took the unusual step of awarding the prize not just to director Kechiche but to his two starring actresses as well.
It joins a pantheon of winners from Carol Reed's "The Third Man" to Michelangelo Antonioni's "Blow Up" and Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H".
1823 GMT: French photographer Benjamin Lemaire tweets: "A Jew (Steven Spielberg) gives the Palme D'Or to an Arab (Abdellatif Kechiche) today for a film about lesbians -- it's just perfect..."
1817 GMT: AFP's Esther Delord reports that the TV journalists are packing up outside as onlookers take final photos of the deserted red carpet -- and the sun starts to disappear behind the hill.
"The festival's over!" she laments.
1814 GMT: A still-emotional Berenice Bejo, who won the best actress award for The Past by Ashgar Farhadi.
"I said the phrase I always hated -- 'I'm sorry, I didn't expect this at all'!" she says of her appearance onstage.
"It's amazing, I worked like a mad person for this role," she says.
1813 GMT: It was a "complete dream come true" to work with the Coen brothers, says Isaac. "It was more than I could ever imagine."
1811 GMT: Oscar Isaac, who stars in the Coen brothers' dark comedy "Inside Llewyn Davis", which won the Grand Prix award, tells Canal Plus it's "unbelievable" to have landed the prize.
1809 GMT: From outside the venue, AFP's Esther Delord reports the Palme D'Or choice was well received by fans, with enthusiastic applause and shouts of "Bravo!" when it was announced.
1806 GMT: "It is as if you took a journey around the world," says Thurman of the festival.
1805 GMT: Uma Thurman is interviewed now on France's Canal Plus.
The Quentin Tarantino blockbuster "Pulp Fiction", starring Thurman, won the Palme D'Or almost 20 years ago, in 1994.
1802 GMT: It's the first time that both starring actresses have been at Cannes. The shock on both their faces a little earlier indicated they hadn't anticipated becoming the stars of the whole festival.
1759 GMT: The winning film takes on extra symbolic resonance against a backdrop of demonstrations in Paris today against France's plans to introduce gay marriage.
"Blue" was among several gay-themed films received with acclaim at Cannes this year.
1758 GMT: Both stars told interviewers they were shocked when they saw themselves in the film's explicit sex scenes onscreen.
1756 GMT: The audacious three-hour-long winner, "Blue is the Warmest Colour", was the closest this year's festival came to a favourite; it has made a star out of 19-year-old newcomer Adele Exarchopolous.
"Sure to raise eyebrows with its show-stopping scenes of non-simulated female copulation, the film is actually much more than that: it's a passionate, poignantly handled love story," a Hollywood Reporter critic said of the film.
"Remarkably, though, the explicit scenes never really feel pornographic, especially since the film isn't about titillation or arousal."
1754 GMT: And that's the end of the ceremony! "Until next year," says presenter Tautou. But don't leave us just yet.
1753 GMT: Both leading actresses speak -- they're both in tears and unable to stammer out much more than "thank you".
1751 GMT: Tunisian-born director Kechiche pays tribute to the revolution that ousted authoritarian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in his home country.
1750 GMT: While it was the sex scenes in "Blue is the Warmest Colour" that seized headlines, the coming-of-age story has been hailed by critics as about much more than sex.
An audacious three hours in length, the picture traces lead character Adele's (Adele Exarchopolous) infatuation with a beautiful blue-haired art student played by rising star Lea Seydoux, while also exploring themes such as class in France and women's careers.
1749 GMT: "It's an excellent teamâ?¦ thanks to everyone who supported us in making this film," says Kechiche.
"I would like nonetheless to remember a man who carried me, supported me as I trace my path and who I miss: Claude Berri," he adds, referring to the French director.
1748 GMT: Kechiche speaks haltingly -- "I need some time to compose myself!" he says.
1746 GMT: Stars Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux take to the stage with the director. Both women look as though they're crying and laughing at the same time.
Kechiche beams with pleasure as he composes himself to loud and prolonged applause.
The film is a lesbian love story, portraying a 15-year-old's first love affair -- with an older woman -- including through explosive scenes of non-simulated sex.
1745 GMT: PALME D'OR GOES TO "BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR" BY ABDELLATIF KECHICHE
1744 GMT: And it's Uma Thurman, looking spectacular in silver, to present this evening's jewel in the crown, the Palme D'Or.
1743 GMT: "How about that, Kim Novak" said Isaac, clearly in awe of the cinematic legend.
1742 GMT: In vertiginous heels and a brightly coloured red and blue top, Kim Novak presents the Grand Prix award.
And it goes to the Coen brothers' dark comedy "Inside Llewyn Davis".
Actor and newcomer Oscar Isaac collects the award. He stars in the movie along with Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake.
1738 GMT: From outside, where the ceremony is being shown on a big screen, AFP's Esther Delord reports that audience member Michele, 65, is unimpressed with the best actress award.
"I'm not a big fan of Berenice Bejo," she says, wrinking her nose. She'd have preferred Lea Seydoux, from "Blue is the Warmest Colour".
1738 GMT: Now the audience is treated to scenes from Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo", starring Kim Novak, who arrives onstage in person to present the next award.
1737 GMT: And the best director is Mexico's Amat Escalante, with "Heli". He thanks the "brave" jury for choosing the film, a dark portrait of contemporary Mexico.
1735 GMT: Our next onstage guest: Forest Whitaker, to present the award for best director.
1734 GMT: Koreeda dedicates the prize to everyone who worked on the film and thanks his parents and wife.
His wife, he says, gave him the idea for this film.
1733 GMT: And the jury prize goes to Hirokazu Koreeda's "Like Father, Like Son" -- a Japanese family drama about young boys switched at birth.
1731 GMT: Now, the jury prize, introduced by Spanish actress Rossy de Palma, muse to legendary director Pedro Aldomavar. She's in black, with dramatic dark red lipstick, and tattoos on her arms.
1729 GMT: A Chinese win! The best screenplay award goes to "A Touch of Sin" by China's Jia Zhangke.
He comes to the stage and thanks his producer and everyone who assisted with the film.
"A Touch of Sin" is a shocking look at corruption and exploitation in modern-day China, which Jia earlier assured spectators would be shown uncensored in his home country.
1728 GMT: Next up: the award for best screenplay, to be introduced by Italian actress Asia Argento.
A sultry Argento says the prize will go to a "captivating" film...
1727 GMT: "I really had an amazing journey on this film," says Bejo. She says she wants to share the prize with the whole team.
"Ashgar I love you so much -- I love this film so much!" she tells the director.
1726 GMT: "An actress doesn't belong to herself, she belongs to those who watch her," says Bloom.
And the prize goes to: Berenice Bejo for her role in The Past by Ashgar Farhadi. A tearful Bejo takes to the podium.
"I thank you... I was not expecting that!" she says.
1724 GMT: If Bruce Dern were here he would be "proud" says Nebraska director Alexander Payne, accepting it on his behalf.
Next up: the best actress award, presented by Orlando Bloom.
1722 GMT: French actress Laetitia Casta, who was wearing spectacular gold feathers on the red carpet, presents the prize for best male actor: it goes to Bruce Dern for "Nebraska".
1720 GMT: "We've been elevated in our thinking" while watching these films, says Spielberg.
"We listened to our hearts."
1718 GMT: Tautou introduces Steven Spielberg, who chaired the jury, to present the main prizes. Now they're bringing on the rest of the jury.
Big applause as Taiwanese director Ang Lee arrives onstage.
1714: And the Palme D'Or for short film goes to 13-minute Korean film 'Safe' by Moon Byoung-Gon.
1711 GMT: With sad music, the red carpet parade draws to a conclusion and the ceremony begins. Audrey Tautou, best known for 'Amelie', is at the microphone.
1704 GMT: Follow AFP's Twitter feed @afpredcarpet for snapshots from our reporters -- including a diamond-studded Uma Thurman blowing kisses to the crowd.
Many among the crowds are here for the stars, not the films, reports AFP's Esther Delord.
But Callie, 23, a teacher of American English, is one exception: she's seen three Palme D'Or contenders, and her favourite was "Behind the Candelabra", Steven Soderbergh's biopic of celebrity pianist Liberace and his long-time lover.
WELCOME TO AFP'S LIVE REPORT on the final day of the Cannes film festival, which is drawing towards a nail-biting conclusion with several films in the running for the coveted Palme D'Or.
Stars are already parading up the red carpet, with Orlando Bloom, Forest Whitaker and the stars of graphic lesbian love story "Blue Is the Warmest Colour" among those to have walked past crowds of excited fans, our reporters say.
Uma Thurman, who will present the Palme D'Or, has also arrived -- walking the red carpet to the music from the 1994 blockbuster "Pulp Fiction", in which she shot to superstardom.
A jury led by Steven Spielberg and also featuring Nicole Kidman and Ang Lee has been assessing contenders which include the Coen brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis", starring Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake, and Chinese film "A Touch of Sin", a shocking portrait of corruption and exploitation, directed by Jia Zhangke.
The sun is shining, there's a breeze among the palm trees and the dresses are spectacular -- welcome to Cannes!
