In the early morning of May 25 (Vietnam time), the 78th Cannes Film Festival ended with the Golden Branch Award given to "It Was Just an Accident" by Iranian director Jafar Panahi.
Director Panahi has been banned from making films for a long time. In 2011, he still sent a flash drive to Cannes with the movie "This Is Not a Film" despite being blocked. The Golden branch award went to Jafar Panahi, a special honor for his tireless efforts.
In his speech accepting the Golden Rooster, director Panahi thanked his family for supporting him and his colleagues in making such an adventure project a reality.
"It Was Just an Accident" tells the story of a group of people who were tortured and accidentally reunite with someone who caused unhealthy wounds in the past.
From there, a series of strange, dark events began to take place, depicting many dark corners in society such as corruption, violence...
Meanwhile, the Grand Prix was awarded to the Norwegian director Joachim Triers drama Sentimental Value.
The film tells the story of a difficult filmmaker's efforts to reconcile his relationship with his daughter. The idea of the film originated when Joachim Trier watched his children sing, dance, and practice speaking.
In the Best Actress category, Nadia Melliti beat many strong candidates to win the award for her role in "Little Sister". The young actress plays a strong Paris girl, trying to shape her gender identity in a conservative immigrant community.
"Little Sister" also received the Queer Palm Award, marking the Recognition of the Cannes Film Festival for its works with a message of gender equality and human rights.
Actor Wagner Moura was named Best Actor. He was highly appreciated for playing the role of a man who hid his identity in the face of an assassination attempt under the Brazilian military apartheid regime.
Although he did not win the Golden Ball, Kleber Mendonça Filho was honored as the best director for the film "The Secret Agent".
In addition, the film "Resurrection" starring Thu Ky won a special prize (Prix Special) at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
"Resurrection" revolves around a woman (played by Thu Ky) trapped in an " advance hour" after surgery. She woke up in 2068 and realized that she was the only survivor in a desolate world.
Results of the 78th Cannes Film Festival:
- Palme d'Or: "It Was Just an Accident" (Jafar Panahi)
- Grand Prix: "Sentimental Value" (Joachim Trier)
- Outstanding Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho, film "The Secret Agent"
- Outstanding Actor: Wagner Moura, movie "The Secret Agent"
- Outstanding Actress: Nadia Melliti, film "Little Sister"
- Awarded by the jury (same award): "Sorat" and "Sound of Falling"
- Special award (Prix Special): "Resurrection"
- Outstanding script: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, film "Young Mothers"
- Camera d'Or (Best Debut Film): "The President's Cake" (Hasan Hadi)
- Special nomination for Camera d'Or: "My Father's Shadow" (Akinola Davies Jr.)
- The golden branch of the short film: "I'm Glad You're Dead Now" (Tawfeek Barhom)
- Special nomination for short film: " Ali" (Adnan Al Rajeev)
- Golden Eye Award for Documentary: "Imago" (Deni Oumar Pitsaev)
- Golden Eye Special Prize: "The Six Billion Dollar Man" (Eugene Jarecki)
- Queer Palm: "Little Sister"
- Palme Dog: dog Panda, movie "The Love That Remains"
