**FREE** Q&Awards: IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

Vahid, an unassuming mechanic, is suddenly reminded of his time in an Iranian prison when he has a chance encounter with Eghbal, a man he strongly suspects to be his sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, Vahid gathers several former prisoners, all abused by that same captor, to try and confirm Eghbal's identity. As the diverse and bickering group drive around Tehran with the captive Eghbal, they must confront how far to take matters into their own hands with their presumed tormentor. Master filmmaker Jafar Panahi creates a deeply felt moral thriller, where high stakes tension combines with unexpected flurries of humor and thoughtful, sometimes devastating questions regarding persecution and revenge versus compassion and understanding. Reflecting on his past experiences as an Iranian prisoner, Panahi has made at once an incisely political yet deeply human film, turning his personal dissonance into a profound and galvanizing work of art. (Description courtesy of NEON)

Jafar Panahi, born in 1960 in Mianeh, Iran, is an acclaimed filmmaker known for his courageous, socially engaged cinema. After studying at Iran Broadcasting University and assisting Abbas Kiarostami, he gained international recognition with his debut feature The White Balloon (1995), which won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes. He went on to receive major awards at Locarno, Venice, Berlin, and Cannes for films such as The Mirror, The Circle, Crimson Gold, Offside, and Taxi Tehran, often focusing on issues like women's rights and social injustice in Iran. Despite facing censorship, imprisonment, and a 20-year filmmaking ban, Panahi continued to create powerful works—many in secret—including This Is Not a Film, Closed Curtain, 3 Faces, and No Bears. After a brief imprisonment in 2022, he was released in 2023 following a hunger strike. In 2025, his film It Was Just an Accident won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival making him only the fourth filmmaker in history to win the top prize at Berlin, Cannes, and Venice.

Amir Etminan is an Iranian film editor based in İstanbul. He holds an MFA in Historical Art of Ancient Iran and a BFA in Theatrical Arts (Acting), along with professional training in filmmaking and photography. As an editor, he has collaborated with some of Iran’s most acclaimed directors. His notable credits include Jafar Panahi’s No Bears (Special Jury Prize, Venice Film Festival 2022; Award for Cinematic Bravery, Chicago IFF 2022) and It Was Just an Accident (Palme d’Or and Prix de la Citoyenneté, Cannes Film Festival 2025), as well as Panah Panahi’s Hit the Road (Best Film, BFI London 2021; Silver Screen Award, Singapore IFF 2021). His filmography also includes works by Reza Jamali, Maryam Zahirimehr, and Asghar Yousefi Nezhad. In addition to editing, Etminan has directed several documentaries, among them Parvin Etesami (2014) and Dada Rasul(2016), which explore Iran’s cultural and historical narratives. In 2024, he expanded his creative scope by producing the short film Maral, directed by Parinaz Mehri. Etminan’s editing style is distinguished by its narrative precision, rhythmic sensitivity, and dedication to stories that transcend borders while remaining deeply rooted in cultural identity.