The political thriller follows a former prisoner who abducts the man he believes was his torturer, sparking a tense moral struggle among fellow dissidents over whether to seek vengeance or choose forgiveness.
Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has been awarded the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Palme d’Or, for his latest feature, It Was Just an Accident, a drama deeply rooted in his own experiences of incarceration under the Iranian regime.
The film marks Panahi’s first project since his release from prison in 2023, though the acclaimed director has defiantly continued making films over the years despite an official ban imposed by Iranian authorities. Widely hailed as his most personal work to date, It Was Just an Accident follows the intertwined lives of five former detainees who believe they’ve identified the anonymous figure responsible for their torture while imprisoned.
Announcing the award, jury president Juliette Binoche praised the transformative power of art, stating, “Art mobilises the creative energy of the most precious, most alive part of us. A force that transforms darkness into forgiveness, hope and new life.”
Taking the stage to accept the prize, Panahi delivered a moving appeal for unity and freedom in Iran. “Let us join forces,” he urged. “No one should tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, or what we should or shouldn’t do.” He emphasised that above all, the future of his country remains his deepest concern.
The win not only reaffirms Panahi’s place among the world’s leading auteurs but also casts a spotlight on the continued repression of artists in Iran, turning Cannes’ most prestigious honor into a powerful act of solidarity.
Produced by Panahi’s own Iranian production company in collaboration with France’s Les Films Pelléas and Luxembourg-based partners, the film is co-produced by Philippe Martin, Sandrine Dumas and Christel Henon, with associate producers David Thion and Lilina Eche.
The ceremony also honoured a range of international voices. Chinese director Bi Gan was awarded the Special Jury Prize for Resurrection, while Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi made history as the first from his country to win the Camera d’Or for his debut feature, The President’s Cake.
