Veteran British director Ken Loach won his second Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival Sunday for “I, Daniel Blake,” a drama about a disabled man's struggle with the benefits system in gritty northern England.

The 79-year-old was presented the festival's top prize by actor Mel Gibson at a ceremony on the French Riviera. Accepting the award, Loach punched his fists in the air in victory and said that he hoped his social realist film would give out a message of hope.

Loach has long brought his distinct portrayals of the British working class to Cannes. He has had 12 films in competition over the years, including his Palme d'Or-winning “The Wind That Shakes the Barley.”

Canadian director Xavier Dolan picked up the runner-up Grand Prize, which has been seen by some critics as a vindication for him after his film “It's Only the End of the World” garnered lukewarm reviews and triggered a spat between him and certain film critics.

Despite mixed reviews, director Asghar Farhadi's film “The Salesman” picked up several awards, including best screenplay and best actor for Shahab Hosseini.

Romanian director Cristian Mungui, who was a favorite to win the Palme d'Or for “Graduation,” won the best director award, which he shared with French director Olivier Assayas for his paranormal thriller “Personal Shopper,” starring former “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart.

— Associated Press