IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT

Vahid, an unassuming mechanic, has a chance encounter with Eghbal, a man he strongly suspects to be his former sadistic jailhouse captor. Panicked, Vahid gathers several former prisoners, all abused by that same captor, to try and confirm Eghbal's identity. As the bickering group drives around Tehran with the captive, they must confront how far to take matters into their own hands with their presumed tormentor.

From master filmmaker Jafar Panahi comes a searing moral thriller that engages with complex ideas about the uncertainty of the truth and the choice between revenge and mercy, as Panahi turns his personal dissonance into a profound and galvanising work of art.

'It Was Just An Accident' is not just a great piece of Iranian cinema but is a world-class cinematic achievement and the pinnacle of Jafar Panahi’s career – one defined by obstacles and hardships, with him being a master of world cinema against the odds.

Click here to read our 4.5-star Sydney Film Festival review of 'It Was Just An Accident'.

The 'It Was Just An Accident' competition has now closed. Winners will be announced shortly. Check our Comps page for all a list of our winners.

Competition opens at 5:00pm AEDT on Sunday 18th January 2026 and closes at 11:59 pm AEDT on Sunday 25th January 2026. Six winners will be chosen at random on Monday 26th January 2026. To successfully win, entrants must fulfil the above entry conditions before the time the competition closes. Current members/followers are eligible to enter the competition. Only one entry per person. Only one winner per household. To be a valid winner, the entrant must not have won a prize from SWITCH within the last 28 days. Each winner will receive one double pass to 'It Was Just An Accident'. By entering, you agree to receive occasional emails from SWITCH in the future. If you decide to unsubscribe from these updates, any further entries will not be applicable. Only Australian residents are eligible to enter.