Hunger, a film based on the story of the Maze Prison hunger striker Bobby Sands has won the Camera d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Hunger gives what critics have called an “enthralling account” of Sands' 66 days on hunger strike to try to get political prisoner status for IRA prisoners.

The film is directed by London-born Turner Prize winner Steve McQueen and stars Irish actor Michael Fassbender as Sands, who was the first to die in the Maze prison hunger strike.

Co-producer Laura Hastings-Smith, who worked alongside Robin Gutch on the film, has said, “The key to the film was that it looked at the humanity of the story and how this place, Maze Prison, at that time in history, how it was a brutalising place for everyone – be you prison officer, prisoner, orderly or riot guard.

“It was a tragedy for everyone. We looked at what happens when dialogue stops and that has a resonance across the world.”

Everyone behind the film is said to be thrilled with the award which is given to first time filmmakers. McQueen has said that the news coverage of the hunger strikes and Sands’ death has stayed with him since he was a child and was what provoked the idea for this, his first film. “This memory and this opportunity drew me to find out more about him and I thought it could be a powerful film,” he said.

Martin Cullen, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, has congratulated everyone involved in making the film, notably Enda Walshe, and actors, Michael Fassbender and Liam Cunningham.

The film has been controversial for its positive depiction of an IRA gunman. Many have commented that this has particular resonance at a time when coverage of treatment at Abu Gharib prison is so prevalent in the media.