#Cannes2025: When Cinema Fought Back
- Romy Kraus
- May 24
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Jafar Panahi’s explosive return, emotional family sagas, and Kristen Stewart’s bold debut redefined storytelling on the Croisette
The 78th Cannes Film Festival wrapped with a potent mix of political defiance, emotional resonance, and cinematic innovation. From Jafar Panahi's triumphant return to Joachim Trier's family saga, the festival spotlighted stories that challenge, heal, and provoke.
The Winners
Palme d'Or: It Was Just an Accident – Jafar Panahi
Grand Prix: Sentimental Value – Joachim Trier
Jury Prize (shared): Sirât – Óliver Laxe, Sound of Falling – Mascha Schilinski
Best Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho – The Secret Agent
Best Actor: Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent
Best Actress: Nadia Melliti – The Little Sister
Best Screenplay: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne – Young Mothers
Caméra d'Or: The President's Cake – Hasan Hadi
“Cinema is listening and responding”
This year’s Cannes spotlighted stories that speak to the chaos and healing of our current moment. Political resistance, mental health, motherhood, and migration took center stage—films didn’t just entertain, they challenged and soothed.
“A deeply angry movie, but more than that, it’s heartsick”
Jafar Panahi returned with fire and empathy. It Was Just an Accident, a searing Iranian drama, took the Palme d'Or and cemented Panahi’s place in global cinema’s elite. A group of ex-prisoners confront the man who tortured them—what unfolds is brutal, emotional, and deeply human.
“A heartfelt experience that you cannot miss”
Joachim Trier scored the Grand Prix with Sentimental Value, a poignant family saga that earned the longest standing ovation of the fest. Set in Norway, the film paints love and loss with Trier’s signature touch—tender, complex, unforgettable.
“A hypnotic and haunting cinematic experience”
Mascha Schilinski’s Sound of Falling split the Jury Prize, offering a dreamlike plunge into memory and identity. A visual and sonic stunner that leaves you unsettled and mesmerized.
“A slippery, sideways creation”
Kleber Mendonça Filho bagged Best Director for The Secret Agent, a thriller wrapped in paranoia and dictatorship. Wagner Moura took Best Actor for the same film—subtle, menacing, unforgettable. A shadowy dance through 1970s Brazil that keeps slipping through your fingers.
“A striking debut”
Nadia Melliti won Best Actress for The Little Sister, her first-ever role. Discovered on the streets of Paris, she brings raw depth to a tale of identity, culture, and belonging in the French capital.
“A bold new voice in filmmaking”
Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut The Chronology of Water left jaws on the floor. Adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, it’s intimate, experimental, and beautifully brutal—announcing Stewart as a filmmaker to watch.
