"Jafar Panahi's film, titled 'A Simple Accident,' clinches the Golden Palm at Cannes"
In the recent 78th Cannes Film Festival, held from May 13 to May 24, 2025, numerous significant events and award-winning films left an indelible mark. Among the key highlights, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi made a striking comeback, winning the Palme d'Or for his film "It Was a Simple Accident." This marked Panahi's first Palme d'Or and his presence at Cannes in over 20 years, following a 15-year travel ban that was lifted in 2023.
The festival also introduced a new dress code for the red carpet, restricting sheer or "naked" dresses and obstructive outfits, intending to uphold decency and facilitate guest movement on the red carpet.
In the highly competitive arena, Jeafar Panahi’s film, a moral thriller that delves into the dilemma of former detainees seeking retribution against their torturers, was declared the winner. The film is a powerful commentary on the arbitrary actions of security forces and the struggle for justice and revenge.
During the awards ceremony, Iranian director Jafar Panahi, in the face of potential reprisals, expressed his hope for his country's freedom, appealing to all Iranians to set aside their differences and focus on the wellbeing of their nation. Panahi, who has faced imprisonment twice in Iran and a 20-year ban on filmmaking, vowed to return to the festival despite the perils that await him.
On a related note, the Cannes Film Festival echoed the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, with several committed statements throughout the event, starting with Robert De Niro's criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump at the opening ceremony.
Other filmmakers who made notable appearances at the festival include South Korean filmmaker Hong Sangsoo, Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas, American actor Jeremy Strong, and Franco-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani, all serving on the jury presided by Juliette Binoche.
Among the numerous award-winning films, Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho's film "The Secret Agent" bagged three prizes, including Best Director, Best Actor for Wagner Moura, and the Fipresci Prize of the International Film Critics Association. French actress Nadia Melliti, aged 23, received the Best Actress award at Cannes for her debut role in "La petite dernière."
Notable mentions also include the Belgian brothers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, who took home the screenplay prize for "Jeunes Mères." This marks their second time winning this prize, following "Le silence de Lorna" in 2008.
Additionally, the Franco-Spanish Oliver Laxe won the Jury Prize with "Sirat," and German director Mascha Schilinski shared the Special Jury Prize with Chinese director Bi Gan for "Resurrection."
In the competition for the Palme d'Or for best short film, Portuguese films like "The Solitude of Lizards," by Inês Nunes, and "Arguments for Love," by Gabriel Abrantes, made an impressive showing.
Cleo Diarra was awarded the Best Actress prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in "The Laugh and the Knife," directed by Pedro Pinho.
Furthermore, the animation "Fille de l'eau," directed by Sandra Desmazières, revolving around the memories of Mia, a former diver, was featured in the competition. The film was a co-production between France, the Netherlands, and Portugal through the animation studio Animais.
[1] https://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes-2023-jafar-panahi-lands-first-palme[2] https://www.screendaily.com/news/red-carpet-dress-code-prohibits-sheer-dresses-at-cannes-2025/5162538.article[3] https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/24/jafar-panahi-cannes-film-festival-palme-dor-three-days[4] https://www.screendaily.com/festivals/cannes-2024-jury-winners-press/5161402.article
French movies-and-tv were prominently shown during the 78th Cannes Film Festival, with French actress Nadia Melliti receiving the Best Actress award at Cannes for her debut role in "La petite dernière." This French production also featured in the competition alongside the animation "Fille de l'eau," directed by Sandra Desmazières.
