I’m shocked—shocked, I tell you.
Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or-winning “It Was Just an Accident” has been passed over by Iran’s official selection committee for the Best International Feature Oscar. Instead, Iran has chosen Ali Zarnegar’s “Cause of Death: Unknown” to represent the country in the 2026 race.
‘Cause of Death’ premiered at the 2023 Shanghai Film Festival, where it earned a Best Cinematography award for Davood Malek Hosseini. However, the film has a low international profile and is very unlikely to make the Oscar shortlist, let alone secure a nomination.
Meanwhile, “It Was Just an Accident” has made France’s five-film shortlist of potential Oscar contenders. Neon acquired the film out of Cannes and is positioning it for an awards run. Selecting Panahi’s film as France’s submission might feel off—after all, there’s nothing inherently French about it. Yet “It Was Just an Accident” could still break into the Best Picture lineup, which, given this year’s lackluster field, is a genuine possibility.
Panahi, who was previously sentenced to six years in prison in Iran, served two before being released in 2023 following a hunger strike. His return to Cannes marked a powerful comeback, met with warmth, emotion, and critical acclaim.
Last year, Iran also snubbed Mohammad Rasoulof’s Cannes-winning Iranian-set “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” which went on to receive a nomination in the Best International Feature category at the 2025 after being submitted by Germany.
Rasoulof, like Panahi, had faced severe legal repercussions in Iran: he was sentenced to eight years in prison, flogging, a fine, and confiscation of property before fleeing the country. He hasn’t returned since.