Overview
- His clandestinely made film 'It Was Just an Accident' won the Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
- He was greeted by cheering fans who presented him with flowers upon landing at Imam Khomeini International Airport.
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot praised the win as a gesture of resistance against the Iranian regime.
- Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei denounced the use of the award for political objectives.
- The victory completes Panahi’s trifecta of top European festival prizes following a 14-year ban on his filmmaking and travel.