Bennett Miller best director at Cannes

Bennett Miller has won the best director award at the Cannes Film Festival for "Foxcatcher".

Bennett Miller has won the best director award at the Cannes Film Festival for "Foxcatcher". (AAP)

Bennett Miller has scooped up the best director award at the Cannes Film Festival for "Foxcatcher" based on the real-life murder of an Olympic wrestling champion by multi-millionaire John du Pont.

The 47-year-old's third feature film had critics raving and viewers were left particularly stunned by Steve Carell, whose performance as the deranged, sinister du Pont marked a complete turnaround from his previous funny man roles.