In spite of a packed schedule promoting his latest film, It Was Just an Accident, Jafar Panahi still makes quite an impression with his energy. In Paris, ahead of the release of his work, the 2025 Palme d'Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival admitted that he hardly has the chance to leave Iran; between 2010 and 2023, the government in place barred him from traveling abroad.

Since his success at Cannes, the 65-year-old filmmaker has attended a flurry of festivals and international events. "It doesn't stop. I've been to Australia, Armenia, Croatia, Poland and, after Paris, I will go to the United States for the Oscars campaign [where It Was Just an Accident was selected to represent France]. Now, it's hard to find time to focus on my projects."

Accustomed since 2010 to shooting without official permits, Panahi has developed countless tricks to minimize risks. For It Was Just an Accident, he pared down the crew to the bare minimum: "All of us, with our equipment, fit into two cars. The larger the crew, the greater the risks." Nearly one-third of the film was shot inside a van, which also served as cover for other scenes, while outdoor scenes were filmed in deserted or little-frequented areas.

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