Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi won the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2025 for It Was Just an Accident, a powerful revenge thriller inspired by his prison experience. Presented by Cate Blanchett, the award marked a major moment for the dissident director, who has long defied censorship in Iran. Greeted with a standing ovation, Panahi called for freedom and artistic expression. His win extends distributor Neon’s Palme streak and highlights the power of cinema as a form of resistance.