Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi has won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his revenge thriller “It Was Just an Accident”. This is his first win after being banned from leaving Iran for over 15 years. The film, inspired by Panahi’s experience in prison, tells the story of a group of former prisoners who encounter the man who terrorized them and weigh whether or not to kill him.
Panahi, who was imprisoned in Tehran’s Evin Prison before going on a hunger strike, has continued to make films clandestinely in his native country despite facing numerous challenges. His win marks an unprecedented streak for independent distributor Neon, which has backed the last six Palme d’Or winners.
The jury praised Panahi’s ability to “find a way” and continue creating art despite difficult circumstances. This is Panahi’s fourth major award, including wins at Venice and Berlin.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/cannes-2025-palme-dor-awards-72ccfe497665406489f8a9b997eda224