Robert De Niro, who
presides the nine-member jury at this year's edition of the Riviera showcase,
presented the two with their gilded trophies. "It's already a real gift to
get an award, and to get it from these hands," gushed a moved
Berges-Frisbey, her voice trailing off as the tears came. As for Schneider -
who plays the object of everyone's affections in "Heartbeats" by
Xavier Dolan - he initially thought it was a joke.
"They told me on April
1 and it's such a huge award, I was sure it was an April Fools prank,"
Schneider told the Associated Press. "It's an honor, but also really a lot
of pressure, given the list of winners." Past laureates of the honor,
which is in its 10th year, include Oscar-winning French actress Marion
Cotillard, Audrey Tautou of "Amelie" fame and Mexican heartthrob Gael
Garcia Bernal.
