Synopsis

"What begins as a minor accident sets in motion a series of escalating consequences."

A man named Eghbal is driving at night with his pregnant wife when he hits and kills a dog. The accident badly damages his engine and causes the car to break down shortly thereafter.

He pulls over to a nearby garage owned by Vahid, who notices that the man resembles the officer who tortured him in prison and ruined his life...



Cast: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Production companies: Les Films Pelléas, Bidibul Productions, Pio & Co
Distributed by: Memento Distribution (France)
Release dates: May 2025 (Cannes), 10 September 2025 (France)


The film is a co-production between Iran, France and Luxembourg. Once again, Panahi, who is critical of the Islamic Republic and has been imprisoned several times, made the film without official filming permission from the Iranian authorities.

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it is set to premiere in May 2025.

Most recently, in his absence, his film No Bears (2022) was shown in the main competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize there.

Financing and filming

It Was Just an Accident was produced by Panahi himself in collaboration with Philippe Martin for Les Films Pelléas, a Paris-based company that produced Justine Triet's Palme d'Or-winning Anatomy of a Fall. The film was co-produced by Bidibul Productions (Luxembourg) and Pio & Co (France). Post-production was completed in France. According to a report by the opposition broadcaster Radio Farda, for It Was Just an Accident Panahi again filmed without a filming permit from the Islamic Republic. The actresses in the film are also said not to wear the hijab, which is compulsory for women under the law in Iran.

Release

It Was Just an Accident was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 20 May 2025. The film was described as a "tightly guarded mystery" upon its announcement at Cannes. Thierry Frémaux, the festival's general delegate, explained in early April that he wanted nothing to be leaked. Panahi's work last appeared at Cannes in 2021 with the omnibus documentary film The Year of the Everlasting Storm, presented as a Special Screening. Upon its announcement, Variety reported that it would be unlikely that Panahi would travel to Cannes for the premiere. Panahi, however, appeared in person at Cannes alongside his wife and daughter, as well as several of the cast members. He last appeared at Cannes in person in 2003, when Crimson Gold was screened in the Un Certain Regard section.

International sales are handled by mk2 Films. The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in France by Memento Distribution on 10 September 2025, under the title Un simple accident. (Wikipedia)