The 78th Cannes Film Festival concluded on a powerful note Saturday, with Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi taking home the Palme d’Or for his political drama It Was Just an Accident. This win marks a deeply symbolic milestone in Panahi’s storied career, as the director he made this movie under longstanding restrictions imposed by the Iranian government, including a ban on filmmaking and international travel.
Panahi’s film, which centres on a group of former political prisoners confronting the trauma of their pasts, was a hit with the festival jury and audience alike.“For a filmmaker, every award is a delight. A lot of work has gone into winning this award,” Panahi said in an emotional acceptance speech.
“At one point, I had so many different images running through my mind. I was thinking about all the faces of my friends who were in prison with me. At that time, we were in prison, but the Iranian people were out on the streets fighting for freedom. Right then, I told myself that I was glad for them,” he continued.
Other major winners at Cannes 2025
The Grand Prix, Cannes’ second-highest honour, was awarded to Joachim Trier for his melancholic family drama Sentimental Value. The Jury Prize was shared by Oliver Laxe for Sirât and Mascha Schilinski for Sound of Falling, both films praised for their emotional depth and artistic vision.
In a strong showing for Latin American cinema, Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho was named Best Director for The Secret Agent, a tense political thriller. The film also earned Wagner Moura the Best Actor award for his gripping performance.
Nadia Melliti took home Best Actress for her moving role in The Little Sister, while the Best Screenplay award went to veteran filmmakers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for their social-realist drama Young Mothers.
Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan was awarded the Special Jury Prize for Resurrection, a visually arresting meditation on memory and time.
Cannes 2025 Un Certain Regard and emerging voices
In the Un Certain Regard section, which focuses on bold and innovative filmmaking, Chilean director Diego Céspedes won the top prize for The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo. The Jury Prize went to A Poet by Simón Mesa Soto, and Palestinian brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser were honoured as Best Directors for Once Upon a Time in Gaza.
The Caméra d’Or, awarded for best first feature, went to Hasan Hadi for The President’s Cake. The Short Film Palme d’Or was awarded to Tawfeek Barhom for his poignant work I’m Glad You’re Dead Now.
Special honours and festival reflections
This year’s festival also celebrated two titans of cinema, Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington, with honorary Palme d’Or awards, recognising their lasting contributions to global film culture.
French actress Juliette Binoche, who presided over the jury, described the selection as “bold and politically charged,” highlighting how many of the films explored freedom, identity, and social unrest.
“This year’s films reaffirm cinema’s ability to provoke, to move, and to challenge the world we live in,” Binoche said at the closing ceremony.
Cannes 2025: Full list of winners
Feature Films
Palme d’Or
UN SIMPLE ACCIDENT
Director: Jafar Panahi
Grand Prix
AFFEKSJONSVERDI (Sentimental Value)
Director: Joachim Trier
Joint Jury Prize
SIRÂT
Director: Oliver Laxe
SOUND OF FALLING
Director: Mascha Schilinski
Best Director
Kleber Mendonça Filho for O AGENTE SECRETO (The Secret Agent)
Best Screenplay
Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne for JEUNES MÈRES
Best Performance by an Actress
Nadia Melliti in LA PETITE DERNIÈRE directed by Hafsia Herzi
Best Performance by an Actor
Wagner Moura in O AGENTE SECRETO (The Secret Agent) directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Special Award
KUANG YE SHI DAI (Resurrection)
Director: Bi Gan
Short Films
Palme d’Or
I’M GLAD YOU’RE DEAD NOW
Director: Tawfeek Barhom
Special Mention
ALI
Director: Adnan Al Rajeev
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard Prize
LA MISTERIOSA MIRADA DEL FLAMENCO (The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo)
Director: Diego Céspedes (1st film)
Jury Prize
UN POETA (A Poet)
Director: Simón Mesa Soto
Best Directing
Arab and Tarzan Nasser for Once Upon a Time in Gaza
Best Actor
Frank Dillane in Urchin directed by Harris Dickinson
Best Actress
Cleo Diára in O Riso e a Faca (I Only Rest in the Storm) directed by Pedro Pinho
Best Screenplay
PILLION
Writer: Harry Lighton (1st film)
Caméra d’Or Prize
THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE
Director: Hasan Hadi (Directors’ Fortnight)
Special Mention
MY FATHER’S SHADOW
Director: Akinola Davies Jr (Un Certain Regard)
La Cinef
First Prize
FIRST SUMMER
Director: Heo Gayoung (KAFA, South Korea)
Second Prize
12 MOMENTS BEFORE THE FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY
Director: Qu Zhizheng (Beijing Film Academy, China)
Joint Third Prize
GINGER BOY
Director: Miki Tanaka (ENBU Seminar, Japan)
WINTER IN MARCH
Director: Natalia Mirzoyan (Estonian Academy of Arts, Estonia)