Israeli director Joseph Cedars won the best screenplay award at the Cannes film festival for his movie “Footnote.”

The director, whose film “Beaufort” was nominated for an Oscar in 2007, had already left Cannes on May 22 and was called back to receive his prize. He did not return in time to accept the award personally.

“Footnote” centers on a father and son who are rival talmudic scholars. It will open throughout Israel on June 2 and will be distributed in the United States by Sony.

Cannes was marked by controversy after Danish director Lars von Trier made public statements expressing sympathy for Hitler and Nazis. His film “Melancholia” had been favored to win the Palme d’Or prize for best picture.

Von Trier was expelled from the festival, but his film remained in contention. Kirsten Dunst won the best actress award for her part in the film; it did not win any other prizes. — jta