Cannes — Neon has secured North American distribution rights for It Was Just an Accident, the latest film from acclaimed Iranian director Jafar Panahi. The film, which premiered in competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, marks Panahi’s first feature since being released from prison and received a lengthy standing ovation following its debut.
Starring Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, and Vahid Mobasser, the drama explores the intense emotional confrontation between a group of former prisoners and the guard who once tortured them. “When you spend eight hours a day blindfolded… you can’t stop wondering what kind of conversation you can have with this man,” Panahi told Variety, reflecting on his own imprisonment.
Produced by Panahi alongside Philippe Martin, and co-produced by Sandrine Dumas and Christel Henon, It Was Just an Accident is a joint production between Les Films Pelléas and Jafar Panahi Production, spanning Iran, France, and Luxembourg. Associate producers include David Thion and Lilina Eche. International sales are being handled by MK2 Films.
Neon’s Sarah Colvin and Jeff Deutchman negotiated the deal with MK2 Films’ Fionnuala Jamison on behalf of the filmmakers. This acquisition marks Neon’s second collaboration with Panahi, following the 2021 Cannes Special Screening title The Year of the Everlasting Storm.
Panahi, considered one of Iran’s most influential filmmakers, was banned in 2010 from making films, speaking to the press, or leaving the country. Despite this, he continued creating films in secret. The ban was officially lifted in April 2023, allowing Panahi to travel to Cannes this year for the film’s premiere.
Neon has established a strong track record with Iranian cinema. Last year, the company acquired Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, which later earned a BAFTA nomination and a spot in the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards.
In addition to Panahi’s film, Neon’s Cannes 2024 lineup included Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, Julia Ducournau’s Alpha, Raoul Peck’s Orwell: 2+2=5, and Michael Angelo Covino’s Splitsville, starring Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona — the latter of which Neon also produced.
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