It Was Just an Accident has received a release date in the middle of a compeтιтive award season. Written and directed by Jafar Panahi, who has been imprisoned several times for being critical of the Iranian government and made the movie without permission from the Iranian authorities, the Persian-language film follows a minor traffic accident that sets in motion a series of escalating events.

The film stars Vahid Mobᴀsseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, and Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this past May and won the Palme d’Or, setting it up for a likely awards season run.

Now, It Was Just an Accident has been set for a theatrical release in North America from Neon on October 15, according to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline. By releasing in the fall, the film is positioning itself for an awards season push.

What It Was Just An Accident’s Release Date Means For The Movie

It’s Set For An Awards Season Run

It Was Just An Accident premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this past May, where it received rave reviews from critics, resulting in a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics call it a bold, personal, and politically charged film that blends moral ambiguity, dark humor, and emotional urgency into a powerful critique of authoritarianism and human resilience.

In ScreenRant‘s It Was Just an Accident review, Graeme Guttman calls it “a revolutionary revenge thriller as chilling as it is thought-provoking… Jafar Panahi’s incendiary revenge thriller is revolutionary and exhilarating as a series of events forces people to ponder the meaning of a violent act.”

It Was Just An Accident went on to win the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, immediately positioning it for an awards season run. Past Palme d’Or winners have been heavily involved in awards season, especially Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite and Sean Baker’s Anora, which both went on to win Best Picture, among other Oscars.

It Was Just an Accident‘s theatrical release positions it perfectly for a major awards season push in multiple categories, such as Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay. However, its eligibility in the International Feature category is uncertain, since the film’s critical stance towards the Iranian government makes it unlikely to be chosen as the country’s official submission for the Oscars.

Our Take On It Was Just An Accident’s Release Date

Current Events Might Have An Effect

Though It Was Just an Accident premiered at Cannes this past May, the recent geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States could deeply influence how North American audiences see the film when it releases this October. The unfolding events could add extra layers of urgency and relevance regarding Panahi’s critique of authoritarianism and political repression.

The volatile political climate could also impact It Was Just an Accident‘s Oscar chances, especially regarding Panahi’s ability to travel and actively support the awards season campaign. The ongoing travel restrictions, particularly the U.S. ban on citizens from several countries, including Iran, may prevent him from attending key award season events to promote the movie.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline