WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST
IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT
Directed by: Jafar Panahi
2025| M | 1 hour 45 mins | Iran | Persian
Doors open at 6:30pm.
Screening starts at 7pm sharp.
A seemingly ordinary accident sets off a chain of events in Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s gripping and thought-provoking new film, It Was Just an Accident — a powerful exploration of justice, revenge, memory and the lasting impact of trauma.
When auto mechanic Vahid has a chance encounter with a man he believes was his former torturer from prison, his world is turned upside down. Recognising the man by the distinctive sound of his prosthetic leg, Vahid kidnaps him with the intention of seeking revenge. But there is one problem — he is not completely sure he has the right person.
As Vahid reaches out to a group of other former prisoners who also suffered under the same regime, each person must confront their own painful memories and decide what justice really means. Can they be certain this is the man responsible? And if he is, what does revenge actually achieve?
Known for his deeply human storytelling and fearless approach to filmmaking, Jafar Panahi has long been one of Iran’s most celebrated directors. Despite facing imprisonment, censorship and restrictions from Iranian authorities, he continues to create films that examine ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances. It Was Just an Accident was made without official filming permission and reflects many of the themes that have shaped Panahi’s career — courage, resistance, morality and the search for truth.
Blending suspense with dark humour and emotional depth, the film turns a tense thriller premise into a much larger conversation about accountability, forgiveness and the scars left by oppression.
A remarkable winner at Cannes, It Was Just an Accident is a compelling and unforgettable film from one of world cinema’s most important voices.
Producers: Jafar Panahi, Philippe Martin
Music: Amin Jafari
Writers: Jafar Panahi
Cast: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr