Jafar Panahi triumphs in Cannes: Golden Palm for Courage and Resistance!
Jafar Panahi triumphs in Cannes: Golden Palm for Courage and Resistance!
Cannes, Frankreich - In an emotional ceremony, the Iranian director Jafar Panahi received the golden palm for his film "Un Simple Accident" (English title: "It was just an accident") at the International Film Festival of Cannes 2025. This significant prize is viewed as one of the highest awards in the cinema and is awarded by the jury, chaired by Juliette Binoche, which in her speech underlined the need for resistance and survival today. The film deals with the experiences in prison and the violence that the Iranian regime exercises, thus reflecting Panahi's personal experiences, which was imprisoned between July 2022 and February 2023 and previously suffered from a ban on working and travel.
"un simple accident" addresses the fate of former prisoners who kidnap their tormentors and deal with questions of revenge. In this film, Panahi combines violent experiences with humorous moments, which makes the work both thoughtfully and entertaining. The audience enthusiastically applauded when Panahi was announced as the winner of the Golden Palm. At the award ceremony, Cate Blanchett also emphasized the important role of cinema in social discussions.
award winners and awards in Cannes
During the film festival, several other significant awards were awarded. The Brazilian film "O Secreto Agente" by Kleber Mendonça Filho received the prize for the best director, while Wagner Moura was awarded the best actor. The jury's great price went to Joachim Trier's “Sentimental Value”, and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne were awarded for the best script for “Jeunes Mères”. Mascha Schilinski received the prize of the jury for her film "Watch in the sun" and dedicated this award to the young filmmakers, especially women.
Panahi, after the lifting of his ban on exit, personally participated in the festival and said during the celebration that the freedom of his country was the most important thing. This is a remarkable circumstances because Iran is known for its strict control over art and culture.
The context of Iranian cinema
Iranian cinema has a long and multifaceted story that is closely linked to political developments. The first cinemas opened in Iran in 1904, initially for men, later also for women and mixed audiences. However, the 1979 Iranian revolution led to considerable restrictions for filmmakers. Internationally recognized works, such as Abbas Kiaarostamis "The taste of the cherry", which won the Golden Palm in 1997, lifted the Iranian cinema on the worldwide stage.
Jafar Panahi is not the only Iranian filmmaker who has received international awards for his work. His film "The Circle" won the Golden Löwen in Venice in 2000, and directors such as ASGhar Farhadi and Mohammad Rasoulof also celebrated great success with their films. Censorship is still an issue in Iran: Historically, after the revolution in 1979, only 10% of the films passed the censorship test, which illustrates the restrictions on freedom in art. DetailsOrt Cannes, Frankreich Quellen
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