The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival ended in an atmosphere of appeasement and shared satisfaction, carried by a dense, demanding selection, and a list of rare accuracy. On the red carpet of the Palais des Festivals, the members of the jury appeared alongside the film teams who came to greet the Croisette one last time, before discovering the long -awaited verdict.
During twelve days, moviegoers, journalists and festival-goers vibrated to the rhythm of the twenty-two films in competition. In the queues, the hotel halls or the surroundings of the rooms, the discussions were going well. The favorites changed according to the projections, the arguments were exchanged with passion, the certainties were chasing. Everyone defended their vision, their emotions, their impulses: between the emotional force of Sentimental value of Joachim Trier, the sensory radicality of Sirât of the filmmaker Hispano-French Oliver Laxe or the political complexity ofA simple accident From the Iranian director Jafar Panahi, the remarkable proposals did not lack. To these already memorable works was added the enigmatic Kuang Ye Shi Dai (Resurrection) From Bi Gan, an unclassifiable, but unforgettable proposal.
Laurent Lafitte, master of ceremonies, launched the closing evening without preamble, revealing a highly anticipated track record in an atmosphere both collected and joyful. An unexpected moment, however, came to break the protocol: the American actor John C. Reilly, responsible for handing over the screenplay to Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for their film Young peoplechose humor to lighten the atmosphere. Evoking the electricity failure occurred during the day, he joked: ” Whenever I come to Cannes, something happens. This time, it’s my birthday! Then, to everyone’s surprise, he began to sing La vie en rose In English-the only version, he confessed, that he knew-before apologizing with a disarming smile.
The jury prize, awarded ex-aequo, was one of the most moving moments of the evening. He returned to Sirât of Oliver Laxe and Sound of Falling of the German director Mascha Schilinski. On stage, Oliver Laxe’s speech took on the appearance of humanist prayer. Speaking in Arabic, he cited a Koranic verse: ” We have created you in peoples and tribes so that you know yourself. A word he said he had heard from the mouth of a Palestinian taxi driver during a festival in Jerusalem, and who deeply marked his vision of the world.
The price of the staging went to the Brazilian Kleber Mendonça Filho for O Secreto agenta contemporary, nervous and explosive adaptation of a spy story. Wagner Moura, overwhelming in the main role, received the male interpretation prize for this same film. The price of female interpretation crowned Nadia Melliti, for her role in The little last by Hafsia Herzi.
A special jury prize was awarded to Resurrection. It was difficult to imagine another distinction for this strange and singular film, as it seems to resist any classification. An extraordinary work, therefore, for a price outside categories.
On the other hand, the remarkable absence of Woman and Child From Saeed Roustaee left an unfinished taste. The film, with great accuracy, has received no awards, and its main actress, Parinaz Izadyar, would have deserved to leave with the interpretation prize. Her game, with a remarkable wealth, kissed a wide range of emotions, from the mother, bereaved to the abandoned woman, from the betrayed sister to the injured lover. An intense role, for a very beautiful film, which obviously did not know how to move the members of the jury.
As I had foreseen it from the first projections, and anticipated in my article CANNES 2025 – Crossed forecasts a few hours from the chartsthe two highest distinctions were awarded to the works that had known the public and criticism the most. The Palme d’Or has been attributed to A simple accident of Jafar PanahI, a film of radical sobriety, stretched like a razor thread; While the Grand Prix went to Affksjonsverdi (sentimental value) of Joachim Triera work of overwhelming subtlety. These two major awards were welcomed with a rare consensus. For the first time in a long time, the record seemed to be unanimous: no one has spoken of injustice, absurd or crying oblivion.
Juliette Binoche, president of the jury, spoke in a sensitive discourse, evoking the artists and the peoples who suffer because of their opinions, and recalling the strength of art when he draws from compassion, tenderness, and a shared humanity. Art, she said, provokes, questions, upsets, and reveals in us unsuspected dimensions; He mobilizes our most precious, most alive, and transforms darkness into hope. It was in this light that she explained the choice of the jury for the golden palm.
Rewarded for A simple accidentJafar Panahi, already winner of the Golden Lion in Venice in 2000 for The circle and gold bear in Berlin in 2015 for Taxi Tehranmade a speech of an overwhelming intensity, which deeply moved the room:
“” Before I say something, let me thank my family, for all the time I was not present with them, and my whole team. They accompanied me on this path to make this film together. Thank you also the whole team that accompanied me here in France for post-production. I think it’s time to ask all people, all Iranians, with all different opinions, all over the world, in Iran or elsewhere … I allow myself to ask for one thing: let’s put all the problems, all the differences on the side. The most important thing at the moment is our country and its freedom. Together. That no one dares to tell us what to do correctly, what to say or not to say, what to eat … cinema is a society. No one has the right to dictate our conduct. I hope this day. Thank you all, I thank the Cannes festival and everyone present. »»
Another highlight of this evening was the delivery of the gold camera, rewarding the best first film all sections. For the first time in its history, the festival crowned a work from Iraq. The president of the jury, the Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher, presented the distinction to The President’s Cake From Hasan Hadi, presented at the fortnight of filmmakers. “” A work that haunted us, me and my jury, like a ghost “She said. The film takes place under the Iraqi authoritarian regime: the young Lamia, nine, is trying to bring together the ingredients necessary for the preparation of a cake, to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Saddam Hussein. A creaky and poignant fable on childhood, memory, and the absurdity of power.
The list of 78th Cannes Festival:
The jury, chaired by Juliette Binoche and composed of Halle Berry, Payal Kapadia, Alba Rohrwacher, Leïla Slimani, Dieudo Hamadi, Hong Sangsoo, Carlos Reygadas and Jeremy Strong, distinguished the following films among the 22 in competition:
Long filmS:
- Palm of gold :: A simple accident – Jafar Panahi
- Grand Prix :: Affksjonsverdi (sentimental value) – Joachim Trier
- Jury Prize (ex-aequo) :: Sirât of Oliver Laxe and Sound of Falling by Mascha Schilinski
- Staging price : Kleber Mendonça Filho for O Secreto agent (the secret agent)
- Scenario prize : Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for Young people
- Female interpretation : Nadia melliti in The little last from Hafsia Herzi
- Male interpretation price : Wagner Moura in O Secreto agent from Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Special jury prize :: Kuang Ye Shi Dai (Resurrection) – Bi gan
Short films ::
- Palm of gold :: I’m glad you’re dead now – Tawfeek Barhom
- Special mention :: Ali – Adnan al Rajeev
Golden Camera
- The President’s Cake from Hassan Hadi – Fifteen filmmakers
- Special mention: My Father’s Shadow of Akinola Davies Jr – a certain look
At the end of this closing ceremony, there remains the memory of a rich and deeply coherent festival, where the diversity of stories, the depth of looks and the sincerity of artistic proposals guided the choices. A 2025 vintage which, without seeking the brilliance at all costs, has imposed itself by its balance, its accuracy, and this rare form of evidence which makes the big records.
Neïla Driss
