Cannes, , May 24 (EFE) – Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s “A Simple Accident” won on Saturday the Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
Shocked, Panahi was initially glued to his seat, unable to get up, and once on stage, he was visibly moved.
“It’s really difficult to speak,” said the filmmaker in Iranian, who was able to travel to Cannes after 15 years without being able to leave his country due to a 2010 conviction for “assembly and collusion against national security” and “propaganda against the system” of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Released on bail, he was arrested again in July 2022 for protesting the arrest of filmmakers Mohamad Rasoulof and Mostafa Ale Ahmad and imprisoned until February 2023.
“It was not possible to make this movie without a dedicated team,” said Panahi, who called on “everyone, all Iranians with all different opinions and all over the world” to put aside differences because “the most important thing is our country and it is the freedom of our country.”
He expressed confidence that a time will come when “no one will tell us what to wear, what to say or what not to do.
Next to him, the actors of the film Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, and Majid Panahi could not hold back their tears while listening to the director.
The Palme d’Or was announced by the president of the Cannes jury, French actress Juliette Binoche, who said a few emotional words before announcing the title of the winning film.
2025 Cannes Winners
— Palme d’Or: ‘It Was Just an Accident’, by Jafar Panahi.
— Grand Prize: ‘Sentimental Value’, by Joachim Trier.
— Best Director Award: Kleber Mendonça Filho, for ‘O agente secreto’ (The Secret Agent).
— Best Screenplay Award: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, for ‘Jeunes mères’.
— Jury Prize: ‘Sirat’, by Oliver Laxe, and ‘Sound of Falling’, by Mascha Schilinski.
— Best Actress Award: Nadia Melliti, for ‘La petite dernière’ (The Little Sister).
— Best Actor Award: Wagner Moura, for ‘O agente secreto’ (The Secret Agent).
— Special Jury Prize: ‘Resurrection’, by Bi Gan.
— Golden Camera for Best First Feature: ‘The President’s Cake’, by Hasan Hadi.
— Special Mention for Best First Feature: ‘My Father’s Shadow’ by Akinola Davies Jr.
— Golden Palm for Best Short Film: ‘I’m Glad You’re Dead Now’ by Tawfeek Barhom. EFE
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