©Courtesy of Neon
The 78th Cannes Film Festival concluded with its most political moment, when Iranian director Jafar Panahi received the Palme d’Or for “It Was Just an Accident“, a film that directly influenced his time in prison.
Panahi’s film combines absurdist humor and anger with five characters who believe they have identified the prosecutor who tortured them during their own arrests. However, since they were all blindfolded in jail, it is impossible for anyone to be certain that their captive is the same man.
Despite being forbidden to make films, the director has continued making films since his initial arrest and conviction for ‘propaganda against the regime’ in 2010. He sent a flash drive to Cannes in 2011 with his movie, “This Is Not a Film, and has remained a vocal advocate for other directors whose work is being suppressed by the government.
Panahi thanked his family for its supporter as well as the team that made such a risky project possible. ”I think it’s the moment to ask everyone, all the Iranians with opinions different from others, in Iran and throughout the world…” he began. ”I’d like to ask them one thing: Put all the problems and differences aside. The most important thing is surely our country and the freedom of our country.”
“Anora” won the Palme d’Or the following year, but the U.S. distributor Neon had the right to take the top prize, despite the country being shut out of the awards. The Secret Agent was the winner of two prizes. Wagner Moura, best actor for his role as a father who disguises his identity to evade assassination during Brazil’s military dictatorship, was recognized as the best director.
Here’s the full list of winners.
COMPETITION
Palme d’Or: “It Was Just an Accident,” Jafar Panahi
Grand Prix: “Sentimental Value,” Joachim Trier
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho, “The Secret Agent”
Actor: Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent”
Actress: Nadia Melliti, “Little Sister”
Jury Prize — TIE: “Sirat,” Olivier Laxe AND “Sound of Falling,” Mascha Schilinski
Special Award (Prix Spécial): “Resurrection,” Bi Gan
Screenplay: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, “Young Mothers”
OTHER PRIZES
Camera d’Or: ”The President’s Cake,” Hasan Hadi
Camera d’Or Special Mention: “My Fther’s Shadow,” Akinola Davies Jr.
Short Film Palme d’Or: “I’m Glad You’re Dead Now,” Tawfeek Barhom
Short Film Special Mention: “Ali,” Adnan Al Rajeev
Golden Eye Documentary Prize: “Imago,” Déni Oumar Pitsaev
Golden Eye Special Jury Prize: “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” Eugene Jarecki
Queer Palm: “Little Sister,” Hafsia Heerzi
Palme Dog: Panda, “The Love That Remains”
FIPRESCI Award (Competition): “The Secret Agent,” Kleber Mendonça Filho
FIPRESCI Award (Un Certain Regard): “Urchin,” Harris Dickinson
FIPRESCI Award (Parallel Sections): “Dandelion’s Odyssey,” Momoko Seto
UN CERTAIN REGARD
Un Certain Regard Award: “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,” Diego Céspedes
Jury Prize: “A Poet,” Simón Mesa Soto
Best Director Prize: Tarzan and Arab Nasser, “Once Upon a Time in Gaza”
Performance Awards: Cléo Diara, “I Only Rest in the Storm”; Frank Dillane, “Urchin”
Best Screenplay: Harry Lighton, “Pillion”
Special Mention: “Norah,” Tawfik Alzaidi
DIRECTORS’ FORTNIGHT
Europa Cinemas Label: “Wild Foxes,” Valéry Carnoy
Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers Prize: “Wild Foxes,” Valéry Carnoy
Audience Choice Award: “The President’s Cake,” Hasan Hadi
CRITICS’ WEEK
Grand Prize: “A Useful Ghost,” Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
French Touch Prize: “Imago,” Déni Oumar Pitsaev
GAN Foundation Award for Distribution: Le Pacte, “Left-Handed Girl”
Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award: Théodore Pellerin, “Nino”
Leitz Cine Discovery Prize (short film): “L’mina,” Randa Maroufi
Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers Prize: Guillermo Galoe and Victor Alonso-Berbel, “Sleepless City”
Canal+ Short Film Award: “Erogenesis,” Xandra Popescu
IMMERSIVE COMPETITION
“From Dust,” Michel van der Aa