Thai film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives has won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

The success of the film surprised many who had tipped British director Mike Leigh''s Another Year to take home the top prize.

The film, directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, revolves around a dying man who is visited by his late wife and his missing son, who has become an ape.

'I would like to thank all the spirits and all the ghosts in Thailand who made it possible for me to be here,' the BBC quoted Weerasethakul, as saying, while accepting the award.

He had won the third-place jury prize at Cannes with his film Tropical Malady in 2004.

Tim Burton, who led the nine-member jury, said: 'Each and every one of us has some favorites that didn't make it.'

Javier Bardem and Italian actor Elio Germano shared the Best Actor prize. Bardem took home the award for his role in Biutiful and Germano for Our Life.

Juliette Binoche won the Best Actress title for Certified Copy.

Other Cannes winners

Best director -- Mathieu Amalric for On Tour

Best screenplay -- Lee Chang-Dong for Poetry

Grand Prix -- Of Gods and Men directed by Xavier Beauvois