Xavier Dolan wins best director at Csar Awards

Quebec film director Xavier Dolan has won the best director award at the Csar Awards, France's equivalent of the Oscars.

Dolan took home the honours for It's Only the End of the World,while the film was also successful in the best actor and film editing categories on Friday.

"I am very touched by your recognition tonight, among all this shining talent, which is so impressive," Dolan told the Csar ceremony.

"For nearly 10 years now since the very beginning the French have always made room for me."

The film is about a dying writer who returns home to his estranged family.Gaspard Ulliel won the Csarfor best actor, who portrays the writer at the centre of the film.

• Xavier Dolan's It's Only the End of the World explores imperfect family relations
• 'I am so proud of my film': Quebec director Xavier Dolan comes home following Cannes win

Britain's Ken Loach won the best foreign film award for I, Daniel Blakewhile Paul Verhoeven earned top honours in the best film category for Elle.

Isabelle Huppert won the best actress award for her performance in Elle.

The evening also included a tribute to Hollywood star George Clooney, who received the honourary Csar and delivered (with the comical assistance of French actor Jean Dujardin) a speech that took digs at U.S. President Donald Trump.