It Was Just an Accident
Updated: 12/20/2025, 2:41:18 PM Wikipedia source
It Was Just an Accident (Persian: یک تصادف ساده, romanized: Yek tasādof-e sāde; French: Un simple accident) is a 2025 thriller film written and directed by Jafar Panahi. The film is a co-production between Iran, France, and Luxembourg. The film follows a group of former Iranian political prisoners who face the question of whether to exact revenge on a man they believe may be their tormentor. Panahi, who is critical of the Iranian government and has been imprisoned several times, made the film without official filming permission from the Iranian authorities. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 78th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2025, where it won the Palme d'Or, and received critical acclaim. At the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, it became the first Iranian film to be nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director and Best Screenplay, and was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. It was selected as the French entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, making the shortlist. It Was Just an Accident was theatrically released in France on 1 October 2025 by Memento Distribution.
Infobox
Persian
یک تصادف ساده
Directed by
Jafar Panahi
Written by
Jafar Panahi
Produced by
mw- Jafar Panahi Philippe Martin
Starring
Vahid Mobasseri Mariam Afshari Ebrahim Azizi Hadis Pakbaten Majid Panahi Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr Delnaz Najafi Afssaneh Najmabadi Georges Hashemzadeh
Cinematography
Amin Jafari
Edited by
Amir Etminan
Productioncompanies
Jafar Panahi Productions Les Films Pelléas Bidibul Productions Pio & Co Arte France Cinéma
Distributed by
Memento Distribution (France)
Release dates
20 May 2025 (2025-05-20) (Cannes) 1 October 2025 (2025-10-01) (France)
Running time
104 minutes
Countries
Iran France Luxembourg
Languages
Persian Azerbaijani
Box office
$9 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Award
Cannes Film Festival
Date of ceremony
24 May 2025
Category
Palme d'Or
Recipient(s)
Jafar Panahi
Result
Won
Prix de la Citoyenneté
Prix de la Citoyenneté
Award
Prix de la Citoyenneté
Date of ceremony
Won
Sydney Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival
Award
Sydney Film Festival
Date of ceremony
15 June 2025
Category
Sydney Film Prize
Recipient(s)
Won
Mill Valley Film Festival
Mill Valley Film Festival
Award
Mill Valley Film Festival
Date of ceremony
14 October 2025
Category
MVFF Award, Filmmaking
Recipient(s)
Won
Audience Favorite – Independent Cinema
Audience Favorite – Independent Cinema
Award
Audience Favorite – Independent Cinema
Date of ceremony
It Was Just an Accident
Category
Won
Middleburg Film Festival
Middleburg Film Festival
Award
Middleburg Film Festival
Date of ceremony
19 October 2025
Category
Impact Award
Recipient(s)
Jafar Panahi
Result
Won
Montclair Film Festival
Montclair Film Festival
Award
Montclair Film Festival
Date of ceremony
27 October 2025
Category
Audience Award for World Cinema
Recipient(s)
It Was Just an Accident
Result
Won
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Award
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Date of ceremony
27 November 2025
Category
Best Film
Recipient(s)
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Jafar Panahi
Category
Won
British Independent Film Awards
British Independent Film Awards
Award
British Independent Film Awards
Date of ceremony
30 November 2025
Category
Best International Independent Film
Recipient(s)
Jafar Panahi, Phillippe Martin
Result
Nominated
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Award
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Date of ceremony
1 December 2025
Category
Best Director
Recipient(s)
Jafar Panahi
Result
Won
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Won
Best International Feature
Best International Feature
Award
Best International Feature
Date of ceremony
Philippe Martin and Jafar Panahi
Category
Won
Atlanta Film Critics Circle
Atlanta Film Critics Circle
Award
Atlanta Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
3 December 2025
Category
Best International Feature
Recipient(s)
It Was Just an Accident
Result
Won
Top 10 Films
Top 10 Films
Award
Top 10 Films
Date of ceremony
6th Place
American Film Institute Awards
American Film Institute Awards
Award
American Film Institute Awards
Date of ceremony
3 December 2025
Category
AFI Special Award
Recipient(s)
It Was Just an Accident
Result
Won
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association
Award
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
7 December 2025
Category
Best Director
Recipient(s)
Jafar Panahi
Result
Nominated
Best Acting Ensemble
Best Acting Ensemble
Award
Best Acting Ensemble
Date of ceremony
It Was Just an Accident
Category
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Foreign Language Film
Award
Best Foreign Language Film
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
7 December 2025
Category
Best Screenplay
Recipient(s)
Jafar Panahi
Result
Won
Best Film Not In The English Language
Best Film Not In The English Language
Award
Best Film Not In The English Language
Date of ceremony
It Was Just an Accident
Category
Runner-up
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Date of ceremony
7 December 2025
Category
Best International Feature
Recipient(s)
Runner-up
Chicago Film Critics Association
Chicago Film Critics Association
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
11 December 2025
Category
Best Director
Recipient(s)
Jafar Panahi
Result
Nominated
Best Film
Best Film
Award
Best Film
Date of ceremony
It Was Just an Accident
Category
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Won
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Foreign Language Film
Award
Best Foreign Language Film
Date of ceremony
Won
St. Louis Film Critics Association
St. Louis Film Critics Association
Award
St. Louis Film Critics Association
Date of ceremony
14 December 2025
Category
Best Film
Recipient(s)
Nominated
Best International Feature Film
Best International Feature Film
Award
Best International Feature Film
Date of ceremony
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Jafar Panahi
Category
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Nominated
Best Scene
Best Scene
Award
Best Scene
Date of ceremony
It Was Just an Accident - Finale
Category
Nominated
Seattle Film Critics Society
Seattle Film Critics Society
Award
Seattle Film Critics Society
Date of ceremony
15 December 2025
Category
Best Picture
Recipient(s)
It Was Just an Accident
Result
Nominated
Best International Feature
Best International Feature
Award
Best International Feature
Date of ceremony
Won
Critics' Choice Awards
Critics' Choice Awards
Award
Critics' Choice Awards
Date of ceremony
4 January 2026
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Recipient(s)
Pending
New York Film Critics Circle
New York Film Critics Circle
Award
New York Film Critics Circle
Date of ceremony
6 January 2026
Category
Best Director
Recipient(s)
Jafar Panahi
Result
Won
Astra Film Awards
Astra Film Awards
Award
Astra Film Awards
Date of ceremony
9 January 2026
Category
Best Picture – Drama
Recipient(s)
It Was Just an Accident
Result
Pending
Best International Feature
Best International Feature
Award
Best International Feature
Date of ceremony
Pending
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards
Award
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards
Date of ceremony
10 January 2026
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Recipient(s)
Pending
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Date of ceremony
11 January 2026
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Recipient(s)
Pending
Best Foreign Language Film
Best Foreign Language Film
Award
Best Foreign Language Film
Date of ceremony
Pending
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Jafar Panahi
Category
Pending
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Date of ceremony
Pending
National Board of Review
National Board of Review
Award
National Board of Review
Date of ceremony
13 January 2026
Category
Best International Film
Recipient(s)
It Was Just an Accident
Result
Won
European Film Awards
European Film Awards
Award
European Film Awards
Date of ceremony
17 January 2026
Category
European Film
Recipient(s)
Philippe Martin, Jafar Panahi, Christel Hénon, Sandrine Dumas
Result
Pending
European Director
European Director
Award
European Director
Date of ceremony
Jafar Panahi
Category
Pending
European Screenwriter
European Screenwriter
Award
European Screenwriter
Date of ceremony
Pending
16 April 2026
16 April 2026
Award
16 April 2026
Date of ceremony
LUX Audience Award
Category
It Was Just an Accident
Recipient(s)
Pending
Lumière Awards
Lumière Awards
Award
Lumière Awards
Date of ceremony
18 January 2026
Category
Best International Co-Production
Recipient(s)
Pending
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Cannes Film Festival | 24 May 2025 | Palme d'Or | Jafar Panahi | Won | |
| Prix de la Citoyenneté | Won | ||||
| Sydney Film Festival | 15 June 2025 | Sydney Film Prize | Won | ||
| Mill Valley Film Festival | 14 October 2025 | MVFF Award, Filmmaking | Won | ||
| Audience Favorite – Independent Cinema | It Was Just an Accident | Won | |||
| Middleburg Film Festival | 19 October 2025 | Impact Award | Jafar Panahi | Won | |
| Montclair Film Festival | 27 October 2025 | Audience Award for World Cinema | It Was Just an Accident | Won | |
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | 27 November 2025 | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Jafar Panahi | Won | |||
| British Independent Film Awards | 30 November 2025 | Best International Independent Film | Jafar Panahi, Phillippe Martin | Nominated | |
| Gotham Independent Film Awards | 1 December 2025 | Best Director | Jafar Panahi | Won | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Won | ||||
| Best International Feature | Philippe Martin and Jafar Panahi | Won | |||
| Atlanta Film Critics Circle | 3 December 2025 | Best International Feature | It Was Just an Accident | Won | |
| Top 10 Films | 6th Place | ||||
| American Film Institute Awards | 3 December 2025 | AFI Special Award | It Was Just an Accident | Won | |
| Washington DC Area Film Critics Association | 7 December 2025 | Best Director | Jafar Panahi | Nominated | |
| Best Acting Ensemble | It Was Just an Accident | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Foreign Language Film | Nominated | ||||
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | 7 December 2025 | Best Screenplay | Jafar Panahi | Won | |
| Best Film Not In The English Language | It Was Just an Accident | Runner-up | |||
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | 7 December 2025 | Best International Feature | Runner-up | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | 11 December 2025 | Best Director | Jafar Panahi | Nominated | |
| Best Film | It Was Just an Accident | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Won | ||||
| Best Foreign Language Film | Won | ||||
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | 14 December 2025 | Best Film | Nominated | ||
| Best International Feature Film | Won | ||||
| Best Director | Jafar Panahi | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Scene | It Was Just an Accident - Finale | Nominated | |||
| Seattle Film Critics Society | 15 December 2025 | Best Picture | It Was Just an Accident | Nominated | |
| Best International Feature | Won | ||||
| Critics' Choice Awards | 4 January 2026 | Best Foreign Language Film | Pending | ||
| New York Film Critics Circle | 6 January 2026 | Best Director | Jafar Panahi | Won | |
| Astra Film Awards | 9 January 2026 | Best Picture – Drama | It Was Just an Accident | Pending | |
| Best International Feature | Pending | ||||
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | 10 January 2026 | Best Foreign Language Film | Pending | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | 11 January 2026 | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Pending | ||
| Best Foreign Language Film | Pending | ||||
| Best Director | Jafar Panahi | Pending | |||
| Best Screenplay | Pending | ||||
| National Board of Review | 13 January 2026 | Best International Film | It Was Just an Accident | Won | |
| European Film Awards | 17 January 2026 | European Film | Philippe Martin, Jafar Panahi, Christel Hénon, Sandrine Dumas | Pending | |
| European Director | Jafar Panahi | Pending | |||
| European Screenwriter | Pending | ||||
| 16 April 2026 | LUX Audience Award | It Was Just an Accident | Pending | ||
| Lumière Awards | 18 January 2026 | Best International Co-Production | Pending |
References
- It Was Just an Accidenthttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/it-was-just-an-accident-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdmzndm0
- It Was Just An Accidenthttps://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt36491653/
- AP Newshttps://apnews.com/article/just-accident-movie-review-831b22396f14f5ff1d00bb770dabee91
- "'It Was Just an Accident' Review: A Liberation Story Straight From Iran"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/movies/it-was-just-an-accident-review.html
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/it-was-just-an-accident-movie-review-jafar-panahi-1235124899/
- Films Fatalehttps://www.filmsfatale.com/blog/2025/5/31/un-simple-accident
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2025/09/france-oscars-it-was-just-an-accident-1236546783/
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scienceshttps://press.oscars.org/news/98th-oscarsr-shortlists-12-award-categories-announced
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2026-oscars-shortlists-1236452202/
- wort.luhttps://www.wort.lu/kultur/luxemburger-film-von-jafar-panahi-kaempft-in-cannes-um-die-palme-d-or/53981540.html
- orf.athttps://orf.at/stories/3303840/
- IndieWirehttps://www.indiewire.com/features/general/jamsheed-akrami-honors-detained-no-bears-filmmaker-jafar-panahi-1234760157/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-venice-film-festival-awards-1235215390/
- Screen Internationalhttps://www.screendaily.com/features/jafar-panahi-on-it-was-just-an-accident-being-in-prison-and-showing-the-iranian-sense-of-humour/5205287.article#:~:text=Are%20you%20free%20to%20work,,%20who%20died%20in%202023%5D
- Festival de Canneshttps://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/un-simple-accident/
- It Was Just an Accidenthttps://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/476304
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm26v9dp9j1o
- «یک تصادف ساده»، فیلم جدید جعفر پناهی، در بخش مسابقه کن ۲۰۲۵ به نمایش درمیآید. Radio Farda, 21 April 2025.https://www.radiofarda.com/a/33381299.html
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- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/global/jafar-panahi-cannes-it-was-just-an-accident-mk2-films-1236365760/
- Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/iranian-film-director-jafar-panahi-cannes-first-time-over-20-years-2025-05-20/
- "un simple accident | le 01.10.25"https://www.memento.eu/un-simple-accident/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/global/france-memento-harry-lighton-pillion-cannes-1236400525/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/global/mubi-jafar-panahi-it-was-just-an-accident-cannes-mk2-1236406782/
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/news/jafar-panahi-it-was-just-an-accident-release-date-1236440246/
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2025/07/tiff-lineup-sydney-sweeny-dwayne-johnson-nuremberg-1236463346/
- TIFFhttps://tiff.net/films/it-was-just-an-accident
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/festivals/shu-qi-girl-resurrection-busan-competition-1236498500/
- Adelaide Film Festivalhttps://www.adelaidefilmfestival.org/program/2025/it-was-just-an-accident
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- theartsdesk.comhttps://theartsdesk.com/film/london-film-festival-2025-paranoia-brazil-and-iran-light-relief-new-york-and-tuscany
- AP Newshttps://apnews.com/article/jafar-panahi-interview-it-was-just-an-accident-f0e8159ee247a7f66f35d5f67a931409
- It Was Just an Accidenthttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/it_was_just_an_accident
- It Was Just an Accidenthttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/it-was-just-an-accident
- Cineuropahttps://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/477755//
- "The 100 Best Movies of the 2020s (So Far)"https://www.indiewire.com/lists/best-movies-2020s/
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- www.iranintl.comhttps://www.iranintl.com/fa/202505256125
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2025/film/global/jafar-panahi-palme-dor-seed-sacred-fig-mohammad-rasoulov-1236409603/
- It Was Just an Accidenthttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/24/iranian-director-jafar-panahi-wins-palme-dor-at-cannes-for-it-was-just-an-accident
- Un simple accidenthttps://www.ouest-france.fr/cinema/festival/festival-de-cannes/cannes-2025-jafar-panahi-recoit-le-prix-de-la-citoyennete-pour-son-film-un-simple-accident-73815478-389b-11f0-9096-11e668431f68
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- It Was Just an Accidenthttps://if.com.au/it-was-just-an-accident-takes-home-best-film-at-asia-pacific-screen-awards/
- My Father's Shadowhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bifa-2025-nominations-british-independent-film-awards-list-1236416506/
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