Iran Summons French Envoy Over Cannes-Winning Film’s “Defiant Message”

Director Jafar Panahi returned to Iran to applause after winning the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for It Was Just An Accident. While the international reception was warm, official Iranian responses have been cautious, with the government summoning a French diplomat over remarks made by France’s foreign minister.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had praised Panahi's film as a powerful act of defiance against the Iranian regime’s repression. This led Iran’s Foreign Ministry to formally protest, condemning the comments as “interventionist and provocative,” according to state news agency IRNA.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also criticized France on social media, pointing to what he described as France's double standards, especially regarding its position on Israel’s actions in Gaza. He wrote, “Spare us Iranians the lectures. You have no moral authority whatsoever.”

Despite the global acclaim, Iran’s state media gave the film a subdued reception, emphasizing the country's cinematic achievements while distancing itself from Panahi’s dissident stance. State television labeled the film an “underground” work filled with falsehoods and condemned Panahi for omitting references to Palestine during his Cannes speech.

The film portrays a man named Vahid who kidnaps someone he suspects of torturing him in prison, seeking confirmation from other former prisoners. Panahi drew inspiration from his own experiences with incarceration and censorship.

The judiciary-linked Mizan news agency dismissed the Cannes award as politically motivated, but reformist outlets and activists celebrated the win. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi called the recognition a testament to Panahi's enduring commitment to human rights and artistic integrity.

Panahi, previously barred from traveling since 2009 due to his political views, has continued to create acclaimed films in defiance of the regime. Despite facing arrest in 2022 and serving time in prison, he was released in 2023 after a hunger strike.

In Cannes, Panahi stated he wouldn’t seek asylum, saying he couldn’t adjust to life outside Iran. “I can’t live anywhere else,” he said. “I don’t have the strength to adapt to a new country or culture.”

Upon his return to Tehran, he was welcomed by supporters at the airport, with chants of "woman, life, freedom" echoing the slogan of the 2022 protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death.

In his acceptance speech, Panahi urged unity among Iranians and called for freedom: “No one should dare tell us what to wear or how to live.”