Cannes Film Festival 2016.

Ken Loach stuns at Cannes 2016 with Palme d'Or win for I, Daniel Blake.

The 79-year-old Briton has triumphed at the Cannes film festival for the second time with his welfare state drama, as Andrea Arnold’s American Honey takes third prize and dark horses pick up awards across the board.

Ken Loach with his producer Rebecca O’Brien and jury president George Miller as I, Daniel Blake wins in Cannes. Photograph: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

There were shocks and surprises – and even talk of a renegade jury – at the closing ceremony for the 69th Cannes film festival. Few of the perceived favourites picked up prizes, while some movies derided as turkeys triumphed – and the one-award-per-movie rule also appeared to have been torn up.

Ken Loach won his second Palme d’Or – the festival’s highest honour – for I, Daniel Blake, a socio-realist drama about a disabled carpenter struggling with the red tape of the welfare system. The director, who turns 80 next month, returned from retirement to make the film, and took to the stage at the Palais to address the audience in French.

“The festival is very important for the future of cinema,” he said, instructing all present to “stay strong.”