The film about Ireland's struggle for independence beat 19 others to the prestigious prize. Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai who led the jury said his panel had looked for films which reflected "compassion, hope, bonding and solidarity".
Ken Loach appeared live on Breakfast earlier today - you can watch the interview on this page later this morning. Loach has said the film, which describes the early days of the IRA in the 1920s from an Irish perspective, is also a critique of the US-led invasion of Iraq.
"Maybe if we tell the truth about the past, maybe we tell the truth about the present," he said as he accepted the award.
On Breakfast this morning Loach spoke to Kate and Simon about how his films are more popular in Europe than in Britain.
"My films are more in tune with European tradition" he said, adding "we [in Britain] are more determined by Hollywood".
 Holding the Palme d'Or award in Cannes |
28 Days later star Cillian Murphy leads the cast, which also includes Padraic Delaney, Liam Cunningham and Orla Fitzgerald. Loach has been nominated for the Palme d'Or on seven previous occasions, but this is the first time he has won the main prize. He won the jury prize in 1990 for Hidden Agenda, about a British army shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland. His is the first UK film to win the Palme d'Or since Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies in 1996.
The Wind That Shakes The Barley will be released in UK cinemas next month.
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