Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his latest film A Simple Accident, a suspenseful political drama shot in complete secrecy.
The 64-year-old director made a rare and emotional appearance in Cannes to accept the award from jury president Juliette Binoche — his first return to the festival since 2003, when his film Crimson Gold was screened in the “Un Certain Regard” section.
Over the years, Panahi has been repeatedly arrested and censored by Iranian authorities due to the politically charged nature of his work.
Addressing the audience and his fellow Iranians during the ceremony, Panahi said, “The most important thing is the freedom of our country.” He called on all Iranians, both inside and outside the country, to set aside their differences and unite for the sake of justice and liberty.
A Simple Accident explores the moral dilemma of former political prisoners who grapple with the temptation to seek revenge against their torturer. The film is a powerful meditation on justice, accountability, and the personal cost of resistance in the face of state oppression.
In defiance of Iranian law, the film was made without official permission. Several actresses also appear on screen without head coverings — a bold challenge to the country’s strict dress code laws for women.
Panahi now becomes the second Iranian filmmaker to win the Palme d’Or, following in the footsteps of Abbas Kiarostami, who won in 1997.
Newcomer Nadia Meliti Wins Best Actress for Powerful Debut
In another major highlight of the festival, French actress Nadia Meliti received the Best Actress award for her role in La petite dernière (The Youngest Daughter), directed by Hafsia Herzi.
This marks the 23-year-old’s cinematic debut. Based on the autobiographical novel by Fatima Daas, the film follows 17-year-old Fatima, a Muslim teenager navigating questions of religion, sexuality, and identity as she comes to terms with her homosexuality.
Speaking to Agence France-Presse during the festival, she said, “When I read the book, I immediately identified with the story. It moved me deeply — this struggle for emancipation, and her background, reminded me so much of my own.”
Wagner Moura Wins Best Actor Award for Spy Thriller Role
Brazilian actor Wagner Moura won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in The Secret Agent, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho. Known internationally for portraying Pablo Escobar in Narcos, the 48-year-old delivers a powerful performance as a conflicted spy in this political thriller.
