Film Festival: Jafar Panahi honored – Cannes politically how long not

With the golden palm for Jafar Panahi’s “Un Simple Accident”, Cannes in 2025 set a political sign – and made himself the scene of one of the most committed years in its history. Not only won with Panahi’s film, such an artistically convincing and politically relevant work. The entire festival was shaped by political discussions in addition to star-hype.

The Iraner Panahi deals with experiences in prison and the violence of the Iranian regime in “Uns Simple Accident” (English title: “It just an accident”). “The film arises from a feeling of resistance, survival that is absolutely necessary today,” said jury chair Juliette Binoche.

Secretly twisted film is about experiences in prison

From July 2022 to February 2023, Panahi was imprisoned in Iran, previously banned from working and travel. His secret film is inspired by his time in prison, as he said. Talks that he had held there with other prisoners were incorporated into the film.

The work is about a group of former prisoners who take off their former tormentor in a short -circuit reaction, who presumably tortured them in an Iranian prison. They embark on a chaotic road trip where the group gets into heated discussions about how and whether they take revenge on it.

It is more often about the deeply violent experiences that the parties involved in captivity. Despite the difficult topic, there are also humorous moments in the film.

“The creative urge can change the world, can change situations that are impossible to endure from a human point of view,” said Binoche about Panahi’s work. At the beginning of the festival, the French actress had signed an open letter in which a number of film stars of Israel’s army use in Gaza criticized. Some films with the Gaza scene ran at the festival.

Cate Blanchett: cinema can pave away for social debates

In addition, the policy of US President Donald Trump was repeatedly the subject of wanting to raise tariffs on films produced abroad before the festival. For this he received criticism and mockery in Cannes, most prominent to the opening of Hollywood star Robert de Niro.

Oscar winner Cate Blanchett took over the speech before the award ceremony to Panahi. She said that Cannes paving the way for the cinema for a broader social discussion. “Here these dialogues are encouraged to take root where they otherwise run the risk of being taken up by the selfish world of national and personal political ambitions.”

These are the other award winners

The thriller “O Secreto Agente” by Brazilian Kleber Mendonça Filho has another political setting. He was awarded the prize for the best director at the 78th Film Festival, and Wagner Moura also received the award as the best actor. The film tells of an academic who was pursued in 1977 during the military dictatorship.

But not all award-winner films were political. The jury’s great prize, the second most important award of the festival, went to “Sentimental Value” by Joachim Trier. The Norwegian tells a multi-layered father-daughter drama.

For the best script, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne were honored with “Jeunes Mères”. In the social drama of young mothers who live in precarious circumstances. The Chinese BI GAN received a special prize for the jury for “Resurrection”. The prize as the best actress went to Nadia Melliti for her role in the coming-of-age drama “La Petite Dernière”.

Mascha Schilinski accepts price with political speech

The Berliner Mascha Schilinski received the prize of the jury for the drama “Looking into the sun”, which she shares with the filmmaker Oliver Laxe (“Sirât”). Schilinski tells in “Look in the sun” of four young women who live on a farm in Altmark at different times. It is about domestic violence, repressed longings or inherited trauma who experience the four women.

Schilinski also became political at the award ceremony: “We want to devote this prize to all those who live in places where it is not easy or impossible or hardly possible to make films – and especially young filmmakers and especially women: Your voices are important. Do not give them up.”

Panahi: “The most important thing is the freedom of our country”

Panahi used his voice in Cannes to address his compatriots. “The most important thing is our country and freedom of our country,” said the 64-year-old. “Let’s reach the moment together when nobody dares to call us on what we are wearing, what we should or should do.” After the award, he reminded of his fellow inmates at the time in a press conference.

After his films were shown over 15 years without him at big festivals, Panahi was able to travel to Cannes this time. His ban on exit was lifted two years ago.

When his name fell as the winner of the Golden Palm, the audience in the hall rose to thunderous applause. Panahi threw his arms into the air and leaned back to his seat before applauding his employees. His personal presence in Cannes was one of the strongest pictures of a film festival rich in strong pictures.