Dissident Iranian director Jafar Panahi, recently arrested multiple times for his filmmaking, won the Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for his political thriller “It Was Just an Accident.” The film, inspired by his prison experiences, follows a released dissident who grapples with the morality of violence for justice. In his acceptance speech, Panahi criticized Iran’s regime, emphasizing the need for personal freedoms, and vowed to return to Iran despite potential prosecution, having previously won top awards at Venice and Berlin.