Iranian film it what just gets at Accident Palme d'Ones!

Iranian film it what just gets at Accident Palme d'Ones!

Cannes, Frankreich - On May 24, 2025, the Iranian film "It was just an accident" by Jafar Panahi was awarded the renowned Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film, which deals with corruption and state violence in Iran, is partly inspired by Panahi's own experience in a prison. The award ceremony, which was celebrated with a standing ovation for the director, took place shortly after a power failure, which briefly disturbed the festival. Panahi, who has had a ban on exit from Iran for over 15 years, used the moment to point out the need for freedom in personal expression.

Jafar Panahi, who was repeatedly imprisoned in the past and excluded from filmmaking, criticized the restrictions of the Iranian regime during his speech. While the jury president Juliette Binoche praised the transformative power of art, Panahi asked Iranian citizens to put old differences aside and to work for the freedom of the country. He emphasized that the cinema was a mirror of society and that nobody had the right to prescribe what people wear or should do, which he formulated as a direct criticism of the restrictions in his home country. Al Jazera reports that the film tells the story of a man named Vahid, who kidnaps a female from prison for him and to look for others. Critics have praised the film as a symbolic exploration of justice with a touch of dark humor.

price ceremonies and awards

At this year's award ceremony, other significant projects also gained recognition. The Grand Prix went to Joachim Trier's Norwegian family drama "Sentimental Value". Kleber Mendonca Filho received the prize for the best director for "The Secret Agent", which also recognized the best actor for Wagner Moura. The jury award was shared between Oliver Laxen's "Sirat" and Mascha Schilinski's "Sound of Falling". Nadia Melliti was honored as the best actress for her role in "The Little Sister" by Hafsia Herzi. The award of Hasan Hadi’s "The President’s Cake", the first Iraqi film that received a prize at Cannes, was particularly remarkable.

The ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Ukraine War and the situation in the Gaza Strip, were also considered during the discussions during the festival. Over 900 actors and filmmakers signed an open letter against violence and genocide in Gaza.

art and culture in Iran

The award of Panahi throws a light on the living but very controlled art scene in Iran. In recent years, contemporary art in Iran has developed remarkably despite state censorship and commercialization. With around 200 registered galleries in Tehran, private galleries have dominated art events since the 2000s, supporting important museums such as the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMOCA), which has the largest collection of western modern art outside of Europe and the USA. bpb emphasizes that the borders between private and public in the art area of ​​Irans are often blurred, while the film and literary area are often heavily regulated is.

The challenges in Iran, including economic crises, threaten the existence of many exhibition locations. Artists and creative people are often under the pressure of state control. In this context, Panahi represents not only a brave artist, but also the striving for Iranian creative people, despite all the hurdles for their beliefs and freedom of art.