Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes 78 for 'Un simple accident'
At the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Iranian dissident director Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or for his film 'Un simple accident', based on stories from his 14-year imprisonment and travel ban. The ceremony, opened by Laurent Lafitte, saw the Caméra d'Or awarded to Iraqi film 'The President's Cake' by Alice Rohrwacher. Bi Gan received a special prize for 'Resurrection'. Kleber Mendonça Filho won Best Director for 'O Agente Secreto', and Joachim Trier took the Grand Prix for 'Sentimental Value'. Cate Blanchett and Juliette Binoche presented the Palme d'Or, with Binoche praising Panahi for 'heart and tenderness, for freedom regained, for new life'. Panahi dedicated the award to his family and called for unity among Iranians, emphasizing freedom and rejecting imposed dress codes and behaviors. Other winners include Wagner Moura (Best Actor), Nadia Melliti (Best Actress), and a shared Jury Prize for 'Sirât' by Oliver Laxe and 'Sound of Falling' by Mascha Schilinski. The festival experienced a blackout during the closing ceremony, adding a cinematic atmosphere.
Key facts
- Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for 'Un simple accident'.
- Panahi was imprisoned and under a 14-year travel ban; the film is based on stories from his imprisonment.
- Cate Blanchett and Juliette Binoche presented the Palme d'Or.
- The Caméra d'Or for best first feature went to 'The President's Cake' (Iraq), awarded by Alice Rohrwacher.
- Bi Gan received a special prize for 'Resurrection', a tribute to cinema from the Lumière brothers to a post-apocalyptic future.
- Kleber Mendonça Filho won Best Director for 'O Agente Secreto'.
- Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value' won the Grand Prix.
- Wagner Moura won Best Actor for 'O Agente Secreto', Nadia Melliti Best Actress for 'La Petite Dernière'.
- The Jury Prize was shared by 'Sirât' (Oliver Laxe) and 'Sound of Falling' (Mascha Schilinski).
- A blackout occurred during the closing ceremony, later restored.
- Panahi called for unity among Iranians and freedom from imposed dress codes and behaviors.
Entities
Artists
- Jafar Panahi
- Alice Rohrwacher
- Bi Gan
- Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Joachim Trier
- Oliver Laxe
- Mascha Schilinski
- Claude Lelouch
- Cate Blanchett
- Juliette Binoche
- Laurent Lafitte
- Wagner Moura
- Nadia Melliti
- Sergi Lopez
- Jean-Pierre Dardenne
- Luc Dardenne
- Margherita Bordino
Institutions
- Cannes Film Festival
- Palazzo del Festival
- Théatre Lumière
- I Wonder Pictures
- Artribune
Locations
- Cannes
- France
- Iran
- Brazil
- Iraq
- China
- Morocco
- Norway