Overview

• Jafar Panahi presented his clandestinely shot political thriller, 'It Was Just an Accident,' in competition at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2025.
• The film, which explores themes of revenge and justice among former prisoners, received a nearly eight-minute standing ovation at its premiere.
• Panahi, who was banned from filmmaking and travel for 20 years in 2010, attended Cannes for the first time since the ban was officially annulled in 2023.
• Despite the lifting of the ban, Panahi continues to work covertly, facing threats from Iranian authorities during the production of his latest film.
• In an emotional speech, Panahi dedicated the film to Iranian filmmakers still imprisoned and highlighted ongoing repression in the country.