Iranian dissident director Jafar Panahi received the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his revenge thriller It Was Just an Accident, despite being prohibited from leaving Iran for over 15 years. The award, presented by Cate Blanchett, comes just three years after Panahi was imprisoned in Iran and engaged in a hunger strike for his freedom.
Throughout the past decade and a half, Panahi has secretly crafted films in Iran, including This Is Not a Film, shot in his living room, and Taxi, filmed within a car. His win was greeted with a resounding standing ovation, showcasing immense support as he expressed disbelief yet gratitude towards his collaborators and the audience. Cannes jury president Juliette Binoche, who had advocated for Panahi during his house arrest in 2010, joined in the applause.
On stage, Panahi emphasised the importance of freedom in his homeland, advocating for the right to choose personal expressions: “No one should dare tell us what kind of clothes we should wear or what we should do,” he declared, highlighting cinema as a reflection of society.
It Was Just an Accident delves into themes of resistance inspired by Panahi’s incarceration, featuring ex-prisoners confronting a man who inflicts trauma upon them. This victory marks a continuing trend for independent distributor Neon, which has been associated with the last six Palme d’Or winners, extending its accolades to films that have previously secured Best Picture nominations at the Oscars.
Unlike his fellow filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, who fled Iran, Panahi plans to return to Tehran after the festival. His passion for representing the Iranian experience in cinema remains undeterred. Panahi also conveyed a message of resilience: “Even in complicated situations, filmmakers will find a way,” stating that the efforts of artists are unable to be suppressed.
The festival itself saw its share of challenges, including a significant power outage before the closing ceremony, which restored just in time for the event. In a highlight, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value received the Grand Prix, with other prestigious awards distributed among various films, reinforcing the festival’s status as a major cinematic platform.
As the curtain falls on this year’s Cannes, the geopolitical context keeps resonating, impacting filmmakers and audiences alike. Panahi’s achievements symbolise both personal and collective triumph against adversity, affirming the enduring power of storytelling through film.