Keep your tux ready—award season is here. The next Academy Awards, the 98th Oscars, will take place in March 2026.
Early predictions have already started taking the spotlight, and several have successfully marked their spots in the respective categories, such as Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, etc.
We cannot forget the Best International feature entry, It Was Just an Accident (2025)- an Oscar contender from France that won massive praise at Cannes premiere.
Early predictions for the Best Picture Oscar 2026
According to Variety, this category might include:
- Sinners (Warner Bros.)
- Bugonia (Focus Features)
- Frankenstein (Netflix)
- One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
- Hamnet (Focus Features)
- A House of Dynamite (Netflix)
- Marty Supreme (A24)
- The Secret Agent (Neon)
- Sentimental Value (Neon)
- Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Early predictions for the Best International Feature Oscar 2026
Others have made their early predictions for the films that run for the Best International Feature Award at the Oscars this time. They are:
- It Was Just an Accident (France)
- Sentimental Value (Norway)
- The Secret Agent (Brazil)
- No Other Choice (South Korea)
- The Voice of Hind Rajab (Tunisia)
- Calle Malaga (Morocco)
- A Useful Ghost (Thailand)
- Sirat (Spain)
Why It Was Just an Accident continues to capture attention
It Was Just an Accident is from Iranian director Jafar Panahi. The film received the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year, the most prestigious award given at the festival. Its recognition brings not only acclaim to Panahi but also spotlights issues of creative expression, censorship, and resilience in global cinema.
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Moreover, the film holds an IMDb rating of 7.7 and a 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score (from 69 reviews) at the time of writing.
The film was instantly recognized as the Best Feature, claiming an official contender spot from France for its entry in the Best International Feature award category. Its selection signifies a recognition of voices from filmmakers working under restriction and the importance of amplifying their stories.
Panahi himself has been the centre of attention due to his controversial film topics that led him to prison in the past. Iran has been conservative about the topics that it usually highlights, resulting in travel and filmmaking bans and more oppression.
Panahi did not stop there. His persistence has enabled him to get the acclaim that he deserves and has now bagged at the Cannes Film Festival. His stories focus on criticism of the policies and human rights abuses, which made a simple story of It Was Just an Accident into a moral debate featuring a bold statement.
Plot details of It Was Just an Accident (2025)
As the name suggests, the story entails a chain of events triggered due to a simple mishap that grows into a series of ever-growing problems. The phrase “It was just an accident” acts as both a defense and an accusation throughout the film. It questions intent, guilt, and consequence — all central themes that unravel with devastating precision.
The film begins with the family of three travelling when Eghbal (played by Ebrahim Azizi) hits a dog and his car gets damaged.
He enters a nearby shop for help, where the garage owner Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) is triggered by the sound of Eghbal’s prosthetic leg. How his leg was hurt remains unknown throughout the film.
Things get out of control when Vahid spares no effort in identifying Eghbal as the one who could have tortured Vahid while he was in prison. The elements of violence and kidnapping kick in, but Vahid still remains unsure. Watch the trailer here to get a better picture:
An insight into the film’s theme and symbolism- Why this film matters?
The film is rumored to portray Panahi’s own thoughts while he was in prison. He might have faced torments himself and thought about the power of those whose voices he might have heard blindfolded.
Beneath the surface of a tense, slow-burning thriller, the film explores deep psychological trauma, blurred moral lines, and the consequences of unresolved pain. Panahi uses minimalism and silence as weapons, forcing the audience to sit with discomfort — mirroring the oppressive silence imposed on dissenting voices in authoritarian regimes.
The film’s Oscar chances: Realistic or symbolic?
Choosing an Iranian-directed film as its official entry may seem surprising at first glance, but it reflects France’s support of global voices and its long-standing cultural ties with politically conscious cinema. With It Was Just an Accident, France isn’t just submitting a film — it’s making a statement.
Given Panahi’s international stature and the Cannes Palme d’Or win, some critics believe this could be France’s strongest shot at an International Feature Oscar since The Artist (2011). However, the Academy’s voting body often leans toward more accessible narratives — will the film’s moral complexity and subtle rage be a barrier or a badge of honor?
Genre: Drama, thriller, mystery, adventure, crime, action
IMDb rating: 7.7
Rotten Tomatoes: 97 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ score) and no score on Popcornmeter at the moment
Cast: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi
Director: Jafar Panahi
Writer: Jafar Panahi
Producer: Jafar Panahi
Release date: October 15, 2025
Movie runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes
With awards season heating up, could It Was Just an Accident be the surprise breakout of the 2026 Oscars? What do you think?
Passionate Entertainment Writer | Trusted Pop Culture Voice
Madiha Ali is an experienced entertainment writer with over five years of expertise in covering movies, TV shows, celebrity news, and pop culture. Her bylines appear on trusted platforms like High on Films, Ary News, The Express Tribune, Tea and Banter, Show Snob, CelebFeedz, Snapfeedz, Daily Planet Media, The Irish Insider, and Movie Insiderz.
She brings a personal, insightful approach to every story—whether she’s analyzing the emotional layers of a film or giving her take on trending celebrity headlines. Madiha’s writing style is known for being authentic, well-researched, and reader-focused.
When she’s not writing, she’s fully immersed in the world of entertainment—watching new releases, revisiting classics, exploring behind-the-scenes content, or reading books that fuel her creativity. Her passion for storytelling drives her work and helps her stay connected to what matters most in the industry.
Madiha believes great stories start conversations, challenge perspectives, and stay with us long after the credits roll. Through her writing, she continues to share those stories with clarity, depth, and heart.
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