Finally home, and my heart is still overflowing with emotions – I’ve returned from Cannes and I’m incredibly eager to share with you that special vibe of the famous red carpet!
As you know, the Cannes Film Festival is not just an event, it’s part of the legendary “Big Five” most prestigious film forums in the world, alongside Venice, Berlin, Sundance, and Toronto. Being there is always thrilling and absolutely unforgettable.
This year, the Palme d’Or was awarded to the Iranian director Jafar Panahi for his film “It Was Just an Accident.” The film, inspired by Panahi’s personal experiences during his imprisonment, tells the story of former prisoners who encounter the man who abused them in captivity and face a difficult moral choice – to seek revenge or not.
The fate of the director himself is no less striking than his works. Jafar Panahi was imprisoned in Iran while trying to find out about the fate of his colleague, also imprisoned director Mohammad Rasoulof. After declaring a hunger strike, he was eventually released in 2023.
From the stage in Cannes, Jafar Panahi delivered a speech that touched everyone. He emphasized that the most important thing for him is freedom in his native country and called on the world to unite.
“No one has the right to dictate what clothes we should wear, what we should do or not do. Cinema is society. No one has the right to tell us what to create and what to avoid,” proclaimed the director.
These words resonated deeply within my soul. They speak of courage, of the right to self-expression, of the power of art that knows no borders or oppression. And what do you think of them?
As always, find more in Gallery and Videos.
Yours, Martina.