Overview

• Jafar Panahi attended the Cannes Film Festival for the first time in 15 years, presenting his new film 'It Was Just An Accident' in competition for the Palme d'Or.
• The film, shot clandestinely without government approval, explores themes of revenge and justice through the story of former political prisoners confronting their oppressor.
• Panahi's work reflects his personal experiences with imprisonment and censorship, blending dark humor and moral ambiguity to critique authoritarian systems.
• Saeed Roustaee's 'Mother and Child,' another Iranian film in competition, contrasts Panahi's approach by depicting veiled women and navigating accusations of government compliance.
• Panahi's presence at Cannes symbolizes both a personal victory and a subtle shift in Iran's cultural diplomacy following global scrutiny since Mahsa Amini's death in 2022.