An Iranian thriller about corruption and state violence has won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
It Was Just an Accident, directed by famous Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, received the Palme d’Or on Saturday. The award came shortly after a power cut disrupted the event in southern France.
The crowd gave Panahi a long standing ovation. The director, known for his secret filmmaking and past prison sentences, has been banned from leaving Iran for over 15 years.
Jury president Juliette Binoche said, “Art transforms darkness into forgiveness, hope and new life.”
On stage, Panahi spoke about the future of Iran. “Let us join forces. No one should tell us what to wear or what we should or shouldn’t do,” he said. The film follows a man named Vahid, played by Vahid Mobasseri, who kidnaps a man with a false leg, believing him to be the prison torturer who ruined his life. He then seeks help from other survivors to confirm the man’s identity and decide his fate.
Critics praised the film’s bold message and mix of dark humour and serious themes.
Other big winners included Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, which won the Grand Prix, and Brazilian film The Secret Agent, which earned two awards — best director for Kleber Mendonca Filho and best actor for Wagner Moura.
The jury prize was shared by Sirat from Oliver Laxe and Sound of Falling by Mascha Schilinski.
Best actress went to Nadia Melliti for The Little Sister.
Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi won the Camera d’Or for his first film, The President’s Cake — the first time an Iraqi film has won at Cannes.
The event faced a brief power outage, and political tensions like Gaza and Ukraine were also discussed.
