CANNES, France — The 2025 Cannes Film Festival showcased a blend of emotions as filmmakers and audiences eagerly anticipated this year’s prestigious Palme d’Or winner. As the festival approached its climax, many speculated whether the coveted award would go to Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value” or Jafar Panahi’s “It Was Just An Accident.” Ultimately, it was Panahi’s film that captured the top honor.

The Cannes Film Awards are regarded as an early indicator of the awards season, with recent history favoring films that perform well here. In fact, four of the last five Palme d’Or recipients — all from NEON — received nominations for Best Picture at the Oscars. Last year, “Anora” clinched the Academy’s top prize, raising questions about whether this year’s winner will follow suit.

The competition this year was fierce, featuring a diverse lineup of films, including “Alpha,” “Case 137,” “Eagles of the Republic,” and “The History of Sound,” among others. The finalists reflected a broad spectrum of storytelling and creativity, all vying for the esteemed recognition.

The jury, led by Academy Award-winning actress Juliette Binoche, included notable figures such as Halle Berry, Indian director Payal Kapadia, and Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas. Together, they deliberated over a remarkable collection of films, ultimately awarding the Grand Prix to Trier’s “Sentimental Value” and recognizing Oliver Laxe’s “Sirât” and Mascha Schilinski’s “Sound of Falling” with the Jury Prize, which ended in a tie.

Additional prominent awards included Best Director for Kleber Mendonça Filho, who took home accolades for “The Secret Agent,” and acting honors for Nadia Melliti and Wagner Moura in the Best Actress and Best Actor categories, respectively. The Dardenne brothers received the award for Best Screenplay for “The Young Mother’s Home.” In a further nod to creativity, Bi Gan’s “Resurrection” was honored with the Prix Spécial.

The festival also showcased its Un Certain Regard category, where Diego Céspedes’ “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo” won the top prize. Other winners included Tarzan and Arab Nasser for Best Director and Frank Dillane for Best Actor in the same category.

In short film categories, Tawfeek Barhom won the Short Film Palme d’Or for “I’m Glad You’re Dead Now,” with a special mention for “Ali” by Adnan Al Rajeev. Meanwhile, the prestigious Caméra d’Or went to Hasan Hadi’s “The President’s Cake.”

Cannes celebrated its dedication to both emerging talent and established icons, awarding honorary Palme d’Ors to actors Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington for their contributions to cinema.

As the festival concluded, excitement built for what these films could achieve in the awards season. The international film community and audiences alike are left pondering which of these acclaimed works might secure nominations and accolades at upcoming ceremonies.

The winners’ list reflects the festival’s commitment to a diverse array of voices in film, igniting discussions among cinephiles regarding the impact these films will have on the industry in the coming years.

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