Overview

• Jafar Panahi premiered his clandestinely filmed 'It Was Just An Accident' in the Cannes Competition, marking his first in-person appearance at the festival since 2003.
• The film received a nearly eight-minute standing ovation, with Panahi dedicating the screening to Iranian filmmakers currently imprisoned for their activism.
• Inspired by Panahi's personal experiences in prison, the film uses dark humor to explore themes of revenge, systemic oppression, and moral ambiguity in Iranian society.
• Production faced significant risks, including threats from plainclothes officers who demanded the footage, though Panahi refused to comply and resumed filming in secret.
• The event underscores Cannes' ongoing support for Iranian dissident filmmakers and highlights international solidarity with artists facing censorship and repression.