Overview

• The CNC confirmed the Cannes Palme d'Or winner as France's entry following a vote by an eleven‑member commission.
• CNC president Gaëtan Bruel framed the move as evidence of France’s role as a hub for international co‑productions and a refuge for artists.
• The film was co‑produced in France by Les Films Pelléas, with producer Philippe Martin noting Iran would not present Jafar Panahi at the Oscars.
• Selection criteria emphasize majority French creative control and a non‑English language, which the film meets with dialogue in Farsi and Arabic.
• Panahi, a leading Iranian filmmaker who shot the film clandestinely and has been imprisoned twice, has not previously competed for an Oscar.