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Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d’Or, Challenging Iran’s Regime Through Cinema

The Iranian director's clandestinely filmed 'Un simple accident' earns Cannes' top honor, igniting diplomatic tensions between France and Iran.

Le cinéaste dissident Jafar Panahi, primé d’une Palme d’or pour son film «Un simple accident».
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Jafar Panahi et sa palme d'or à Cannes, ce samedi 24 mai.

Overview

  • Jafar Panahi's 'Un simple accident,' a covertly filmed critique of Iran's theocratic regime, was awarded the Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2025.
  • During his acceptance speech, Panahi called for unity among Iranians to fight for freedom, emphasizing the importance of liberty for the country's future.
  • French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot praised the award as a symbol of resistance, prompting Iran to summon France’s chargé d’affaires over what it called 'insulting' remarks.
  • Panahi, who has been imprisoned and banned from filmmaking in Iran, defied restrictions to create the film, which is set for theatrical release in France on September 10, 2025.
  • The recognition marks the first Palme d’Or for an Iranian director since Abbas Kiarostami in 1997, further highlighting the global solidarity with artists resisting censorship.