Cannes 2025: Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident Wins Palme d’Or!
The 78th Cannes Film Festival (May 13-24, 2025) wrapped with a dazzling awards ceremony, crowning Iranian director Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident with the prestigious Palme d’Or. From heartfelt dramas to bold thrillers, this year’s winners, selected by a jury led by Juliette Binoche, set the stage for awards season. UK film fans, wondering what to watch? TGI Movie has you covered with cinema showtimes, film tickets, and streaming options on Disney+, Netflix, or Prime Video for related titles. Add these Cannes gems to your personalized watchlist, read reviews, and get ready for their UK rollout—book tickets now where available!
Cannes 2025 Award Highlights
Palme d’Or: It Was Just an Accident, Jafar Panahi
Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident (1h45m, Iran) clinched the Palme d’Or, marking Neon’s sixth consecutive win. This absurdist moral thriller follows five dissidents debating whether to kill a man they believe tortured them in prison, blending wit and fury. Critics call it “bracing” and “humanist”. Panahi, exiled from Iran, attended Cannes for the first time in decades, making this a triumphant return.
Synopsis
A man, named Eghbal, is driving at night with his pregnant wife when he hits and kills a dog. The accident badly damages his engine and causes the car to break down shortly thereafter. He pulls over to a nearby garage owned by Vahid, who notices that Eghbal resembles the officer who tortured him in prison and ruined his life. Vahid stalks the man, who walks with a false leg, and kidnaps him. Vahid prepares to bury him alive but grows doubtful about the man's identity and reaches out to a fellow prisoner for confirmation. He meets up with the bookseller Salar, wedding photographer Shiva, bride Goli, groom Ali, and angry worker Hamid. Riding around day and night, Vahid's van is occupied by these victims all seeking revenge on the man who brutally abused them. During their ride, they contemplate the morality of killing their captive and whether he actually is who they believe him to be.
Grand Prix: Sentimental Value, Joachim Trier
Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value (2h10m, Norway) won the Grand Prix, earning a 19-minute standing ovation. This family drama stars Renate Reinsve as an actress cast in her estranged father’s (Stellan Skarsgård) personal film, exploring reconciliation. Critics hail its “big emotions” (88% Rotten Tomatoes).
Jury Prize (Tie): Sirât, Oliver Laxe & Sound of Falling, Mascha Schilinski
In a rare tie, the Jury Prize went to Sirât (1h50m, Spain) and Sound of Falling (2h, Germany). Sirât, a raucous road trip, and Sound of Falling, a century-spanning drama, are “original voices”. Both scored 80% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Best Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent
Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho won Best Director for The Secret Agent (2h5m, Brazil), a political thriller about a dissident (Wagner Moura) evading assassination during Brazil’s dictatorship. Critics praise its “energetic” pacing (85% Rotten Tomatoes).
Best Screenplay: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Young Mothers
The Dardenne brothers earned Best Screenplay for Young Mothers (1h40m, Belgium), a humane drama about struggling mothers. Critics call it their “most accessible” work (82% Rotten Tomatoes).
Best Actress: Nadia Melliti, The Little Sister
Newcomer Nadia Melliti won Best Actress for The Little Sister (1h35m, France/Algeria), playing a Paris teen navigating sexuality in a conservative community. Her “moving” performance earned a Vulture spotlight.
Best Actor: Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Wagner Moura took Best Actor for The Secret Agent, delivering a “career-best” turn as a father in hiding. Critics about his “intense” Portuguese-speaking role, complementing Filho’s directing win.
Special Award: Resurrection, Bi Gan
Bi Gan’s Resurrection (2h40m, China), a poetic fantasia, received a Special Award for its “ambitious” vision. Critics praise its “dreamlike” visuals (79% Rotten Tomatoes).
Camera d’Or: The President’s Cake, Hasan Hadi
Hasan Hadi’s The President’s Cake (1h30m, Iraq) won the Camera d’Or for best first film, the first Iraqi film to win at Cannes. This quirky tale of a baker’s political misadventure charmed critics (75% Rotten Tomatoes).
Why Cannes 2025 Matters
Cannes 2025 showcased global voices, from Panahi’s defiant Iranian thriller to Hadi’s Iraqi debut. With Neon dominating, winners like It Was Just an Accident and Sentimental Value are Oscar hopefuls, following Anora’s 2024 Best Picture win.