Winners of the 78th Cannes Film Festival announced

Iranian director wins top prize

On Saturday, May 24, the 78th Cannes Film Festival came to a close, where talented directors presented their works. And, of course, the jury finally chose the winners and honored their favorites with awards.

The festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or, was awarded to the film «It Was Just an Accident» by Iranian director Jafar Panahi. This is the filmmaker’s first film after his release from prison. It tells the story of an Iranian man, his pregnant wife, and their young daughter who get into a minor car accident that sets off a series of unpredictable events.

The Grand Prix went to «Sentimental Value» by Norwegian director Joachim Trier, which captivated the jury with its emotional depth. Meanwhile, the Best Director award was given to Brazilian filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho for the dynamic thriller «Secret Agent». Actor Wagner Moura, who played the lead role in the film, was named Best Actor.

In the category of Best Actress, Nadya Melliti won for her performance in «Younger Sister», impressing the jury with her subtle emotional portrayal. The award for Best Screenplay went to the film «The Young Mothers’ Home», created by brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

Finally, the Jury’s Special Prize this year was awarded to «Resurrection» by director Bi Gan, while the Jury Prize was shared by two films – «Sirat» by Oliver Laxe and «The Sound of Falling» by Masha Shylinsky. In the short film category, the winner was Taufiq Barom’s «I’ll Be Glad If You Die Now» – a provocative title that sparked lively discussion among audiences and critics.