BRIT HIT AT CANNES.

Byline: By VICTORIA WARD

A BRITISH film about tragic Joy Division singer Ian Curtis won special praise from judges at Cannes.

Control, starring unknown Sam Riley as Curtis and Samantha Morton as his wife, got a special mention at the movie festival.

The low-budget black-and-white film on the singer, who committed suicide, is director Anton Corbijn's feature debut. He had to plough his own money into the project because he was refused funding. But despite praise for Control, no British films made the official competition.

Four Months, Three Weeks and Two Days - a Romanian illegal abortion tale set in the final days of Communism - was awarded the Palme d'Or. It had been favourite to win. US filmmaker Julian Schnabel won best director for The Diving Bell and The Butterfly - based on a true story about a magazine editor who was forced to communicate with just his left eye after suffering a massive stroke.

Silent Light by Mexican director Carlos Reygadas and French animation Persepolis won jury prizes.