The documentary film "Fahrenheit 9/11" by American Michael Moore received the Golden Palm Branch at the Cannes Film Festival. For the first time since 1956, the Cannes jury, this time headed by American director Quentin Tarantino, decided to give the main award to a documentary film. \n"Fahrenheit 9/11" is a furious exposé of President George Bush, his alleged ties to the bin Laden family, the scandal of the 2000 US presidential election, and the war in Iraq, notes the Russian service of the BBC. In his characteristic satirical style, Moore accuses Bush Jr. of usurping the presidential election, of disregarding the threat of terrorism before September 11, 2001, and of deliberately playing on the fear of new terrorist attacks in order to secure Americans' approval for the invasion of Iraq. \n \nas the BBC reports, the film was not named among the main contenders for the top distinction of the Cannes Festival. Moore himself was stunned. "What have you done. I am in complete shock!" he declared while speaking after the award ceremony. With greater seriousness he added: "I wanted to be sure that even if I did nothing else this year, the fallen in Iraq would be given their due." Moore thanked the head of the jury, Quentin Tarantino: "You will make Americans watch this film. This will ensure it unprecedented attention." \n \nMoore's film was to be released in the US through the company Miramax, a subsidiary of Disney. However, Disney vetoed the distribution of the picture. Moore used this episode for a series of loud statements on television. \n \nThere are also critics of the film "Fahrenheit 9/11". The publication "Hollywood Reporter" stated that Moore "is developing a new genre - the documentary film as a means of struggle in elections." The newspaper "Variety", which represents cinematic circles, noted that the new picture is less inflammatory than expected and declared that "Fahrenheit 9/11" is a "stolid cinematic pamphlet for the 2004 elections." Moore gained popularity after a series of loud television programs and books in which he defended the interests of poor Americans, accused American corporate circles of greed, and ridiculed the US media industry. \n \nAmong other awards of the Cannes Film Festival: the Grand Prix was received by the film "Oldboy" by South Korean film director Park Chan-wook. The Special Jury Prize went to film director from Thailand Apichatpong Weerasethakul for the film "Tropical Malady" and to actress Irma P. Hall for her role in the film "The Ladykillers". Frenchman Tony Gatlif received the prize for directing in the film "Exiles". 14-year-old Japanese Yagira Yuya was recognized as best actor for his role in the film "Nobody Knows". Best actress - Maggie Cheung from Hong Kong, who played in the film "Clean". \n \n.................... \nAccording to the decision of the jury of the International Film Festival in Cannes, which awarded the highest prize - the "Golden Palm Branch" - to the documentary film of American director Michael Moore "Fahrenheit 9/11", there are no political motives. This was stated today at a press conference by the head of the film festival jury, American director Quentin Tarantino. Noting that the jury members took into account only the artistic value of the films entered in the competition, Quentin Tarantino said: "We all agreed that 'Fahrenheit 9/11' is the best film." In turn, jury member, American actress Kathleen Turner asserted that Moore's work is "more than a documentary film, it is the first film of a new genre that was worth noting." This is reported by the RIA "Novosti" agency. The agency notes that the press conference of the Cannes jury members, at which they explained the choice they made, is the first such case. \n \nFor the first time since 1956, the Cannes jury decided to give the main award to a documentary film. Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11" was also recognized with the prize of the International Federation of Film Critics FIPRESCI. \n