The 2025 Cannes Film Festival ended with a big win for Iranian director Jafar Panahi. His movie It Was Just an Accident won the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize. This marks Panahi’s first in-person appearance at Cannes in over 20 years after being banned from leaving Iran.
Panahi, who was once imprisoned in Iran, made the film based on his own experiences. The story follows a former prisoner who kidnaps a man he believes tortured him. The movie has been called powerful and deeply personal.
“Let us put our differences aside. The most important thing is our country’s freedom,” Panahi said in his emotional speech. “No one should dare tell us what to wear, what to say, or what not to do.”
This is the sixth year in a row that Neon, the U.S. distributor, has backed the Palme d’Or winner. Other big winners include Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, which won the Grand Prix, and The Secret Agent, which earned Best Director and Best Actor awards.
Key Winners at Cannes 2025
Palme d’Or: It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
Grand Prix: Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier
Best Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho – The Secret Agent
Best Screenplay: Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne – Young Mothers
Special Prize: Resurrection – Bi Gan
Camera d’Or (Best First Film): The President’s Cake – Hasan Hadi
The festival faced unexpected drama when a power outage hit the region on the final day. The event continued using backup generators. Despite this, the awards ceremony went smoothly.
Panahi’s win makes him one of only four directors to win the top prizes at Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. The other three are Henri-Georges Clouzot, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Robert Altman.
Brazil had a strong showing with Wagner Moura winning Best Actor for The Secret Agent. The film’s director, Kleber Mendonça Filho, also took home Best Director.
“That was our wish,” said jury member Jeremy Strong about giving two awards to The Secret Agent.
The festival also honored Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington with Honorary Palme d’Or awards for their contributions to cinema.
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