Pablo Larraín’s latest screen effort could be considered one of the best received films at the Cannes Film Festival with raves from critics… And, now he’s reaping his own rewards.

The 35-year-old Chilean director/screenwriter’s latest film No took top honors at the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar at the 65th Cannes Film Festival. The historical drama claimed the Art Cinema Award on Friday.

Based on a true story, No stars 33-year-old Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal as a brash young Chilean advertising executive who spearheads a campaign that helps topple Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet’s regime.

“This movie is a masterfully engaging and energetic drama about politics and power, a tonic for the brain that is also a major entertainment,” says Sony Pictures Classics, which bought the North American rights to the film following its well-received screening. “No establishes Pablo Larraín as a major international director and Gael Garcia Bernal gives his finest performance.”

Other winners in this year’s Directors’ Fortnight section include Merzak Allouache‘s El taaib (The Repentant) and Noemie Lvovsky‘s Camille redouble (Camille Rewinds). Also on Friday, The Repentant was honored with the Europa Cinemas Label prize for best European film running in Cannes’ official selection.

Directors’ Fortnight opened with Michel Gondry‘s The We and the I and also featured Ben Wheatley‘s Sightseers and Rodney Ascher’s Room 237.