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.