Iranian filmmaker Panahi urges ‘freedom’ as he wins Cannes top prize

Iranian dissident director Jafar Panahi won the Palme d’Or at Cannes for his film “It Was Just an Accident,” which explores the moral dilemmas of revenge against oppressors. In his acceptance speech, he called for unity in Iran for freedom, emphasizing the importance of free expression in cinema despite his own imprisonment and a filmmaking ban. Other awards included best actor for Wagner Moura in “The Secret Agent,” and best actress for Nadia Melliti in “The Little Sister,” amidst a dramatic closing ceremony marred by a five-hour power cut.