Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d‍‍`Or at Cannes 2025 for ‍‍`It Was Just an Accident‍‍`

In a momentous triumph for Iranian cinema, director Jafar Panahi clinched the Palme d'Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for his gripping political thriller, It Was Just an Accident. The film, produced clandestinely in Tehran without official permission, delves into themes of trauma, vengeance, and moral ambiguity, reflecting Panahi's enduring critique of authoritarianism. 

Panahi, who has faced imprisonment and a 20-year ban on filmmaking in Iran, made a poignant appearance at Cannes. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized the importance of unity and freedom for Iranians, stating, "This recognition is not just for me, but for all the unheard stories of our region. I'm honored and deeply grateful." 

The festival's closing ceremony was briefly overshadowed by a regional power outage, later attributed to sabotage. However, power was swiftly restored, allowing the ceremony to proceed without further incident. 

Complete Winners List – Cannes 2025

Official Selection

• Palme d'Or: It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi

• Grand Prix: Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier

• Jury Prize (ex aequo): Sirât – Oliver Laxe; Sound of Falling – Mascha Schilinski

• Best Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho – The Secret Agent

• Best Actress: Nadia Melliti – The Little Sister

• Best Actor: Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

• Best Screenplay: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne – Young Mothers

• Special Prize: Resurrection – Bi Gan

• Honorary Palme d'Or: Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington

Un Certain Regard

• Un Certain Regard Prize: The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo – Diego Céspedes

• Jury Prize: A Poet – Simón Mesa Soto

• Best Director: Tarzan and Arab Nasser – Once Upon a Time in Gaza

• Best Actor: Frank Dillane – Urchin

• Best Actress: Cleo Diára – I Only Rest in the Storm

• Best Screenplay: Harry Lighton – Pillion

Short Films

• Palme d'Or: I'm Glad You're Dead Now – Tawfeek Barhom

• Special Mention: Ali – Adnan Al Rajeev

Caméra d'Or

• Best First Feature: The President's Cake – Hasan Hadi

• Special Mention: My Father's Shadow – Akinola Davies Jr.

La Cinef

• First Prize: First Summer – Heo Gayoung (KAFA, South Korea)

• Second Prize: 12 Moments Before the Flag-Raising Ceremony – Qu Zhizheng (Beijing Film Academy, China)

• Third Prize (ex aequo): Ginger Boy (Separated) – Miki Tanaka (ENBU Seminar, Japan); Winter in March – Natalia Mirzoyan (Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonia)

Immersive Competition

• Best Immersive Work: From Dust – Michel van der Aa

This year's Cannes Film Festival highlighted the resilience and creativity of filmmakers worldwide, with Panahi's victory symbolizing the enduring power of cinema to challenge and inspire.