Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi was awarded the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival for "A Simple Accident", a bold, underground film critical of Iran’s security forces and justice system.
Jafar Panahi © FID
Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi was awarded the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival for "A Simple Accident", a bold, underground film critical of Iran’s security forces and justice system.
It marks a major return for the 64-year-old director, who attended Cannes for the first time in 15 years.
In an emotional speech, Panahi called for unity among Iranians, declaring, “What matters now is our country and its freedom.” Filmed secretly without official permits, A Simple Accident features actresses without veils and directly challenges the power of the Iranian state. Despite facing potential repercussions, Panahi has vowed to return to Iran.
He becomes the second Iranian filmmaker to win the Palme, after Abbas Kiarostami in 1997. Last year, fellow Iranian dissident Mohammad Rasoulof received only a special prize before remaining in exile.
By Arman Rahimi
Israel's military said it intercepted two missiles launched from Yemen and that sirens had sounded twice across the country including in Jerusalem and the West Bank on Friday, as the Iran-aligned Houthis stepped up attacks.
Iranian and U.S. delegations wrapped up a fifth round of talks in Rome on Friday and signs of some limited progress emerged in the negotiations aimed at resolving a decades-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
Iran's parliament approved a 20-year strategic partnership on Wednesday between Moscow and Tehran, state media reported. The agreement represents a deepening of bilateral ties including closer defence cooperation.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.