Jafar Panahi‘s Cannes winner “It Was Just an Accident” will be released in theaters this fall. Neon has dated the movie for theatrical release on October 15.
The film marks the Iranian auteur’s first feature since being released from prison in Iran and was directly inspired by his incarceration. “It Was Just An Accident” follows what begins as a minor accident, which sets in motion a series of escalating consequences. The story centers on five characters who think they’ve identified the prosecutor who tortured them during their own arrests — but as they were all blindfolded in jail, none can be entirely certain their captive is the same man.
“When you spend eight hours a day blindfolded, seated in front of a wall, being interrogated by someone standing behind your back every day, you can’t stop wondering what kind of conversation you can have with this man,” Panahi told Variety‘s Nick Vivarelli in one of his first interviews about the project.
“It Was Just an Accident,” also marked Panahi’s comeback in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, seven years after his film “Three Faces.” The filmmaker was heralded with a lengthy standing ovation following the film’s premiere. Then, with his Palme d’Or win, Panahi became the fourth director to win the European festival triple crown, collecting the top prize at all three major European festivals; Panahi received the Golden Lion in Venice of “The Circle” and Berlin’s Golden Bear for “Taxi.”
Neon acquired North American rights to the film at Cannes, solidifying a second collaboration with Panahi, following “The Year of the Everlasting Storm,” which played in Cannes Special Screenings in 2021. The distributor nabbed its sixth consecutive Palme d’Or with Panahi’s film and is planning a robust awards campaign in categories including best picture, director, original screenplay and international feature. At the 2024 festival, Neon picked up Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” which went on to be nominated for a BAFTA and best international feature at the Oscars, and was behind Sean Baker’s “Anora,” which took home five Academy Awards, including best picture, best director and best actress for Mikey Madison.
“It Was Just an Accident” is produced by Jafar Panahi and Philippe Martin and co-produced by Sandrine Dumas and Christel Henon, with David Thion and Lilina Eche serving as associate producers. The film is a Les Films Pelléas and Jafar Panahi Production from Iran/France and Luxembourg. MK2 Films is representing international sales rights.
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