Jafar Panahi’s Cannes Competition Film ‘It Was Just an Accident’ Boarded by MK2 Films (EXCLUSIVE)

MK2 Films has boarded revered Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi‘s mystery movie “It Was Just An Accident” which will world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival.

Panahi produced the film with Les Films Pelléas, the production company behind “Anatomy of a Fall.” It’s co-produced by Bidibul Productions and Pio &Co. The film did its post-production in France.

The plot is under wrap and the enigmatic logline says, “What begins as a minor accident sets in motion a series of escalating consequences.”

Panahi was last in Cannes in 2021 with his documentary “The Year Of The Everlasting Storm” which played in Special Screenings. His 2018 film “Three Faces” played in competition and won best screenplay.  

MK2 Films will also present Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” the Norwegian filmmaker’s follow up to “The Worst Person in the World,” in competition.

Panahi is considered one of Iranian cinema’s greatest living masters. He is known globally for prizewinning works such as “The Circle,” “Offside,” “This is Not a Film,” “Taxi,” and “No Bears,” winner of  Venice Film Festival’s 2022 Special Jury Prize.

He has been frequently arrested by Iranian authorities, most recently in July 2022 after signing an appeal against police violence and spent several months behind bars. In April 2023 Panahi’s travel ban was lifted and he reportedly travelled to France before returning to Tehran. It is not know if the dissident Iranian auteur will be making the trek to Cannes for “It Was Just an Accident” though this is not likely.