Israeli film director Joseph Cedar clinched the best screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival for his film, Footnote.

Footnote is a drama-comedy about the rivalry between a father and son who are competing Talmud scholars at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

The 42-year-old Cedar had already left France before the prizes were announced, and though called back for the ceremony did not make it in time to receive his award.

Footnote is scheduled to open in Israel on June 2. Sony Classics bought the rights to distribute the film internationally.

Born in New York on August 31, 1968, Cedar grew up in Jerusalem where his family moved when he was six. He studied philosophy and theater history at Hebrew University and cinema at New York University’s legendary film school.

Cedar’s film, Beaufort, won the Silver Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007 and represented Israel in the Best Foreign Film category at the Oscars.

This week’s win marked Cedar’s first award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Cedar’s other films Time of Favor and Campfire were box office hits in Israel and official selections for the foreign-language category at the Oscars.