Winners of Cannes Film Festival

Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident has been awarded the Palme d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, which concluded this evening (May 24) at the Grand Theatre Lumiere.

This marks the Iranian director’s first film since his release from prison and depicts a man, his heavily pregnant wife, and their young daughter, who experience a minor car accident, leading to a series of ensuing events.

The second place Grand Prix was awarded to Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, while the Jury Prize was given to Oliver Laxe’s Sirat.

Kleber Mendonça Filho received the best director award for The Secret Agent, with the film’s lead, Wagner Moura, also earning the best actor accolade.

Nadia Melliti took home the best actress award for The Little Sister, and Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne were honored with the best screenplay prize for Young Mothers.

Cannes 2025 Competition awards

Grand Prix: Sentimental Value, dir. Joachim Trier

Best Actress: Nadia Melliti, The Little Sister

Best Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho, The Secret Agent

Jury Prize: Sirat, dir. Oliver Laxe

Best Screenplay: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Young Mothers

Best Actor: Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent

Special Award: Resurrection, dir. Bi Gan

Camera d’Or: The President’s Cake, dir. Hasan Hadi

Special mention: My Father’s Shadow, dir. Akinola Davies Jr

Short Film Palme d’Or: I’m Glad You’re Dead Now, dir. Tawfeek Barhom

Special Mention: Ali, dir. Adnan Al Rajeev