‘It Was Just An Accident’ Wins Palme D’or At Cannes; ‘Sentimental Value’ Awarded The Grand Prix

It Was Just An Accident directed by Jafar Panahi won the Palme d’Or tonight at the Cannes Film Festival. The co-production between France and Iran premiered May 20th and earned an 8-minute standing ovation. The film quickly became one of the most talked-about movies on the Croisette.

This win also marks Neon’s sixth win in a row, an incredible streak for the U.S. distributor.

French actor Laurent Lafitte hosted the closing ceremony of the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which Juliette Binoche presided over with her jury, which included Halle Berry, Payal Kapadia, Alba Rohrwacher, Leïla Slimani, Dieudo Hamadi, Hong Sangsoo, Carlos Reygadas and Jeremy Strong.

During his speech, Panahi said, ‘’Before I say anything else, please let me thank my family for the period of time I was absent and my team who accompanied me throughout the making of this film.’’

He added: ‘’I think now is the right moment to ask every person that has a different opinion, I ask you this one thing: let us put our differences aside, what is important is the freedom of our country. With you, here, we have this moment together, where no one tells us what to wear, what to say, what we must not do. Cinema is a society, no one can tell us what to do.’’

Throughout the ceremony, many prestigious awards were given to some incredible movies presented during this festival’s edition.

The Camera d’Or trophy was given to Hasan Hadi’s The President’s Cake.

A Special Price was given to Resurrection directed Bi Gan, China’s incredible sci-fi entry into the competition.

Wagner Mourra was awarded the award for best actor for his role in ‘’The Secret Agent’’ Brazil’s unique entry in competition this year.

Best screenplay is awarded to Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for their film Young Mothers.

The Jury Prize was exceptionally awarded to two movies, Sirat directed by Oliver Lax, and Sound of Falling directed by Mascha Schilinski.

Legendary director Claude Lelouch presented Kleber Mendonça Filho the award for best director, tonight’s second win for The Secret Agent. During his speech, the director called the Cannes Film Festival ‘The cathedral of cinema.’

Nadia Melliti was awarded best actress for her role in coming-of-age movie The Little Sister directed by Hafsia Herzi and adapted from Fatima Daas’ autofiction The Last One.

Sentimental Value directed by Joachim Trier won the Grand Prix at Cannes tonight. The film premiered May 21st and received a 19-minute standing ovation. In 2021, it was Trier’s The Worst Person in the World that earned Renate Reinsve a Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival.