Overview

• Jafar Panahi's clandestinely made film 'It Was Just an Accident' won the Palme d'Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, marking his third top prize at major European festivals.
• The film, inspired by Panahi's own prison experiences, features unveiled actresses and explores themes of revenge and moral complexity, directly opposing Iran's strict social norms.
• Panahi used his acceptance speech to call for Iranian unity and freedom, criticizing the regime's restrictions, including its modesty rules for women.
• France's Foreign Minister described the win as a symbolic act of resistance against Iranian oppression, prompting Iran to summon France's chargé d'affaires in protest.
• Despite the risks, Panahi plans to return to Iran, where his victory has been largely ignored by state media, continuing his defiance of censorship and repression.