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Panahi’s Secretly Shot ‘It Was Just an Accident’ Opens Strong as Neon Mounts Oscars Push

Panahi channels prison memories into a covertly made film he now risks promoting publicly.

Overview

  • It Was Just an Accident earned $68,021 from three theaters in its opening weekend and $115,000 over its first five days, signaling a robust platform start for Neon’s release.
  • Shot in Iran without permits, the production evaded authorities by handing over an empty memory card during a police stop, with portions of the edit completed in France for safety.
  • The film won the 2025 Palme d’Or at Cannes and has drawn strong reviews, with trade watchers positioning it as one of the season’s international awards contenders.
  • Panahi’s seven months in Evin Prison informed the story’s exploration of trauma and justice, reflecting lived experiences without disclosing plot specifics.
  • The U.S. rollout features Q&As with Panahi following an earlier visa delay that derailed a New York Film Festival appearance, as prominent filmmakers publicly champion his work.