Cannes awards Palme d'Or to Iranian revenge drama 'It Was Just an Accident'

Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his revenge thriller “It Was Just an Accident," handing the festival's top prize to a director who had been banned from leaving Iran for more than 15 years.

Cate Blanchett presented the award to Panahi, who three years ago was imprisoned in Iran before going on a hunger strike. For a decade and a half, he has made films clandestinely in his native country, including one film ("This Is Not a Film") made in his living room, and another ("Taxi") set in a car.

The crowd rose in a thunderous standing ovation for the filmmaker, who immediately threw up his arms and leaned back in his seat in disbelief before applauding his collaborators and the audience around him. On stage, Panahi was cheered by Cannes jury president Juliette Binoche, who in 2010 in Cannes held up Panahi's name to honor the director when he was under house arrest.

On stage, Panahi said what mattered most was freedom in his country.

“Let us join forces,” said Panahi. “No one should dare tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, what we should do or what we should not do. The cinema is a society. Nobody is entitled to tell what we should or refrain from doing.”

The win for “It Was Just an Accident” extended an unprecedented streak: The indie distributor Neon has now backed the last six Palme d'Or winners. The latest triumph for Neon, which acquired “It Was Just an Accident” for North American distribution after its premiere in Cannes, follows its Palmes for “Parasite,” “Titane,” “Triangle of Sadness,” “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Anora.”

All those films were Oscar contenders and two, “Parasite” and “Anora,” won best picture.

Last year, filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof fled Iran to attend the premiere of his film in Cannes and resettle in Germany. Panahi, though, has said that unlike his friend Rasoulof, life in exile isn't for him. He planned to fly home to Tehran on Sunday.

“It Was Just an Accident” was inspired by Panahi's experience in prison. In the film, a group of former prisoners encounter the man who terrorized them in jail, and weigh whether or not to kill him.

Panahi was jailed in Tehran’s Evin Prison after going there to inquire about the then-jailed Rasoulof. Panahi was released in 2023 after going on a hunger strike.

In 2009, he was banned from traveling out of Iran after attending the funeral of a student killed in the Green Movement protests. Through those years, Panahi continued to make films illegally in Iran, without a permit, and had his films smuggled to festivals on USB drives. His travel ban was lifted after his release in 2023.

“The film springs from a feeling of resistance, survival, which is absolutely necessary today,” Binoche told reporters after the ceremony. “Art will always win. What is human will always win.”

The Cannes closing ceremony followed a major power outage that struck southeastern France on Saturday in what police suspected was arson. Only a few hours before stars began streaming down the red carpet, power was restored in Cannes.

“A day without electricity," sighed John C. Reilly, who sang an English-language “La Vie En Rose” at the ceremony. The festival's films, he said, supplied “all the needed electricity."

The Grand Prix, or second prize, was awarded to Joachim Trier’s Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value,” his lauded follow-up to “The Worst Person in the World.” Some had expected “Sentimental Value” to win the Palme, but Trier — whose film reunites him with actor Renate Reinsve — still took a major prize.

“We live in a time of tremendous excess and saturation of images. Moving images are being thrown at us all the time," said Trier. "And I want to give homage to the Cannes Film Festival for being a place where the big cinematic image, which is the foundation of the moving image, the free image, the image that we take time to look at, the image where we can identify with each other in contemplation and empathy, to be cherished in this place in such a way is very important in this moment.”

Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Brazilian political thriller “The Secret Agent" won two big awards: best director for Filho and best actor for Wagner Moura. Though Cannes juries are generally urged to spread awards around, the two for “The Secret Agent” showed the jury's strong feelings for it. Asked about the two prizes, juror Jeremy Strong explained, simply, “That was our wish.”

The wins, which followed the international film Oscar victory for Walter Salles' “I'm Still Here” in March, gave Brazil more to celebrate. On X, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said the awards “show that our country’s cinema is second to none.”

The jury prize was split between two films: Óliver Laxe’s desert road trip “Sirât " and Mascha Schilinski's German, generation-spanning drama “Sound of Falling.” Best actress went to Nadia Melliti for “The Little Sister,” Hafsia Herzi's French coming-of-age drama.

The Belgian brothers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, who are two-time Palme d'Or winners, won best screenplay for their latest drama, “Young Mothers.” Its their ninth prize in Cannes. The festival's award for best first film, the Camera d'Or, went to Hasan Hadi for “The President's Cake,” making it the first Iraqi film to win an award at the festival.

Saturday's ceremony brought to a close a 78th Cannes Film Festival where geopolitics cast a long shadow, both on screen and off. Shortly before the French Riviera extravaganza, which is also the world's largest movie market, U.S. President Donald Trump floated the idea of a 100% tariff on movies made overseas.

Most filmmakers responded with a shrug, calling the plan illogical. “Can you hold up the movie in customs? It doesn’t ship that way,” said Wes Anderson, who premiered his latest, “The Phoenician Scheme” at the festival. At the opening ceremony, honorary Palme d'Or recipient Robert De Niro called Trump “America's philistine president.”

Other top American films in Cannes included Spike Lee's “Highest 2 Lowest” (which pulled Lee away from his New York Knicks but not out of their blue and orange color), the Christopher McQuarrie-Tom Cruise actioner “Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning," and Ari Aster's “Eddington,” which found a divisive reaction.

Panahi's win put him in rare company. He's now won Cannes' Palme d'Or, Venice's Golden Lion (for “The Circle”) and Berlin's Golden Bear (for “Taxi”). Only three other filmmakers have done that: Henri-Georges Clouzot, Michelangelo Antonioni and Robert Altman.

Addressing reporters after his win, Panahi spoke about filmmakers and artists always being able to find a way, “even in complicated situations.”

“They must realize that no powers that be can halt such people in their tracks,” said Panahi. “You have this power.”

Jake Coyle has covered the Cannes Film Festival since 2012. He’s seen approximately 40 films at this year’s festival and is reporting on what stands out.

For more coverage of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/cannes-film-festival

Director Joachim Trier, centre, winner of the grand prix for the film 'Sentimental Value', poses with Renate Reinsve, from left, Stellan Skarsgard, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Director Joachim Trier, winner of the grand prix for the film 'Sentimental Value', poses for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Nadia Melliti, winner of the award for best actress for the film 'The Little Sister', poses for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Directors Jean-Pierre Dardenne, left, and Luc Dardenne, winners of award for best screenplay for 'Jeunes Meres,' pose for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Director Joachim Trier, centre, winner of the grand prix for the film 'Sentimental Value', poses with Elle Fanning, from left, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Director Jafar Panahi, winner of the Palme d'Or for the film 'It Was Just an Accident', poses for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Director Kleber Mendonca Filho poses with his award for best director for the film 'The Secret Agent' as well as the best actor award received on behalf of Wagner Moura at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Director Joachim Trier, accepts the grand prix for 'Sentimental Value', during the awards ceremony of the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Director Jafar Panahi, front, accepts the Palme d'Or for the film 'It Was Just an Accident', during the awards ceremony of the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)

Mascha Schilinski, winner of the jury prize for the film 'Sound of Falling', poses for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Director Oliver Laxe, winner of the jury prize for 'Sirat', poses for photographers at the awards ceremony photo call at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Director Jafar Panahi, accepts the Palme d'Or for the film 'It Was Just an Accident', during the awards ceremony of the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Director Jafar Panahi, centre, accepts the Palme d'Or for the film 'It Was Just an Accident', as he poses with Cate Blanchett, left, and jury president Juliette Binoche during the awards ceremony of the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Director Oliver Laxe, left, accepts the jury prize for 'Sirat', presented by Da'Vine Joy Randolph, right, during the awards ceremony of the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Director Kleber Mendonca Filho, accepts the award for best director for 'The Secret Agent', during the awards ceremony of the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Jury president Juliette Binoche, center, poses with jury members Halle Berry, from left, Carlos Reygadas, Dieudo Hamadi, Payal Kapadia, Alba Rohrwacher, Hong Sang-soo, Leila Slimani and Jeremy Strong during the awards ceremony red carpet at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)

Jafar Panahi poses for photographers during the awards ceremony red carpet at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Cate Blanchett poses for photographers during the awards ceremony red carpet at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Renate Reinsve poses for photographers during the awards ceremony red carpet at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)

John C. Reilly, left, and Alison Dickey pose for photographers during the awards ceremony red carpet at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Elle Fanning poses for photographers during the awards ceremony red carpet at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Jane Fonda poses for photographers during the awards ceremony red carpet at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Elle Fanning, left, and Joachim Trier pose for photographers during the awards ceremony red carpet at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Tom Cruise poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

Robert Pattinson, left, and Jennifer Lawrence pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Die, My Love' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Director Kristen Stewart poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'The Chronology of Water' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 16, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

A$AP Rocky, left, and director Spike Lee pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Highest 2 Lowest' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 19, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Elle Fanning poses for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Bill Murray, from left, Mia Threapleton, director Wes Anderson, Benicio del Toro, Michael Cera, Jeffrey Wright and Benedict Cumberbatch pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'The Phoenician Scheme' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Austin Butler, from left, Emma Stone and Austin Butler pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Eddington' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Sergi Lopez, from left, Bruno Nunez, and director Oliver Laxe pose for photographers at the photo call for the film 'Sirat' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Director Jafar Panahi poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'It Was Just an Accident' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)

Jennifer Lawrence poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Die, My Love' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)

Renate Reinsve poses for photographers upon departure from the premiere of the film 'Sentimental Value' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills fans arrived early and lingered long after the game ended to bid what could be farewell to their long-time home stadium filled with 53 years of memories — and often piles of snow.

After singing along together to The Killers' “Mr. Brightside” in the closing minutes of a 35-8 victory against the New York Jets, most everyone in the crowd of 70,944 remained in their seats to bask in the glow of fireworks as Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World” played over the stadium speakers.

Several players stopped in the end zone to watch a retrospective video, with the Buffalo-based Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” as the soundtrack while fans recorded selfie videos of the celebratory scene. Offensive lineman Alec Anderson even jumped into the crowd to pose for pictures before leaving the field.

With the Bills (12-5), the AFC's 6th seed, opening the playoffs at Jacksonville in the wild-card round next week, there's but a slim chance they'll play at their old home again. Next season, Buffalo is set to move into its new $1.2 billion facility being built across the street.

The farewell game evoked “a lifetime of memories,” said Therese Forton-Barnes, selected the team’s Fan of the Year, before the Bills kicked of their regular-season finale. “In our culture that we know and love, we can bond together from that experience. Our love for this team, our love for this city, have branched from those roots.”

Forton-Barnes, a past president of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, attended Bills games as a child at the old War Memorial Stadium in downtown Buffalo, colloquially known as “The Rockpile.” She has been a season ticket holder since Jim Kelly joined the Bills in 1986 at what was then Rich Stadium, later renamed for the team’s founding owner Ralph Wilson, and then corporate sponsors New Era and Highmark.

“I’ve been to over 350 games,” she said. “Today we’re here to cherish and celebrate the past, present and future. We have so many memories that you can’t erase at Rich Stadium, The Ralph, and now Highmark. Forever we will hold these memories when we move across the street.”

There was a celebratory mood to the day, with fans arriving early. Cars lined Abbott Road some 90 minutes before the stadium lots opened for a game the Bills rested most of their starters, with a brisk wind blowing in off of nearby Lake Erie and with temperatures dipping into the low 20s.

And most were in their seats when Bills owner Terry Pegula thanked fans and stadium workers in a pregame address.

With Buffalo leading 21-0 at halftime, many fans stayed in their seats as Kelly and fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed addressed them from the field, and the team played a video message from 100-year-old Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy.

“The fans have been unbelievable,” said Jack Hofstetter, a ticket-taker since the stadium opened in 1973 who was presented with Super Bowl tickets before Sunday’s game by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “I was a kid making 8 bucks a game back in those days. I got to see all the sports, ushering in the stadium and taking tickets later on. All the memories, it’s been fantastic.”

Bud Light commemorated the stadium finale and Bills fan culture with the release of a special-edition beer brewed with melted snow shoveled out of the stadium earlier this season.

In what has become a winter tradition at the stadium, fans were hired to clear the stands after a lake-effect storm dropped more than a foot of snow on the region this week.

The few remaining shovelers were still present clearing the pathways and end zone stands of snow some five hours before kickoff. The new stadium won’t require as many shovelers, with the field heated and with more than two-thirds of the 60,000-plus seats covered by a curved roof overhang.

Fears of fans rushing the field were abated with large contingent of security personnel and backed by New York State troopers began lining the field during the final 2-minute warning.

Fans stayed in the stands, singing along to the music, with many lingering to take one last glimpse inside the stadium where the scoreboard broadcast one last message:

“Thank You, Bills Mafia.”

AP Sports Writer John Wawrow contributed.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) remains on the field to watch a tribute video after the Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Fans celebrate after the Buffalo Bills scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Fans celebrate and throw snow in the stands after an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Aga Deters, right, and her husband Fred Deters, walk near Highmark Stadium before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Michael Wygant shoves snow from a tunnel before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Alec Anderson (70) spikes the ball after running back Ty Johnson scored a touchdown against the New York Jets in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

FILE - The existing Highmark Stadium, foreground, frames the construction on the new Highmark Stadium, upper right, which is scheduled to open with the 2026 season, shown before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots, Oct. 5, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Salt crew member Jim Earl sprinkles salt in the upper deck before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)