Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's latest masterpiece "It Was Just an Accident," which won the prestigious Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, will make its theatrical debut in South Korea on October 1. This marks one of the earliest worldwide releases alongside France, beating even the North American premiere by two weeks.
The film, which claimed the top honor at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May, tells the gripping story of a group of former political prisoners who kidnap a man they believe tortured them during interrogation. The powerful drama showcases Panahi's continued exploration of political themes and human rights issues that have defined his acclaimed career. The movie is scheduled for its North American release on October 15 through distributor Neon.
Local distributor Green Narae Media secured the distribution rights during a screening at this year's Cannes Film Market, even before the film was announced as the festival's winner. A company official explained the strategic timing behind the early Korean release, stating, "Since director Panahi is receiving the Asian filmmaker of the year award at Busan this year, we pushed for the earliest possible release." The official told The Korea Herald on Tuesday that Panahi gave his approval for the expedited release, noting, "He's been to Korea several times and has a real connection with audiences here."
This acquisition represents a significant milestone for Green Narae Media, marking their fourth Palme d'Or winner in their catalog. The company previously distributed "Dheepan" (2015), "Triangle of Sadness" (2022), and "Anatomy of a Fall" (2023). This year has been particularly successful for the distributor, as they also secured rights to Joachim Trier's "Sentimental Value" and Bi Gan's "Resurrection," which won the runner-up Grand Prix and Special Jury Prize at Cannes, respectively.
Panahi will be honored with the Asian filmmaker of the year award at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, which runs from September 17-26 across multiple venues in the port city. As part of the festival's Asian cinema retrospective, audiences will also have the opportunity to see his 2011 documentary "This Is Not a Film." The documentary holds special significance as it was secretly filmed while Panahi was under house arrest and banned from filmmaking by Iranian authorities, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his craft despite political persecution.
