France Selects Palme D’Or Winner for Oscars
France has chosen Jafar Panahi’s Palme D’Or winner, "It was just an accident", to represent the country in the "Best International Feature Film" category at the Oscars. The film was selected by an 11-member committee from a shortlist of five finalists, including Richard Linklater’s "New wave", Rebecca Zlotowski’s "A private life", Hafsia Herzi’s "The little sister", and Ugo’s 2D animation "Arco".
Selection Process
The committee, appointed by the French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, met with producers, international sales agents, and US distributors of each film on the shortlist before making their final decision. France has not won in the "Best International Feature" category since Regis Wargnier’s "Indochina" in 1993 and has not made it to the final nominations since Ladj Ly’s "The misery" in 2020.
About the Film
"It was just an accident" won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May and has been acquired by Neon for US distribution. The film, which tells the story of a group of former political prisoners who confront the guard who once tortured them, was shot in Iran and is a mix of Farsi and Arabic. Despite being produced by French companies Les films de Pelléas and Jafar Panahi Film Production, the film is considered an Iranian drama.
Distribution and Release
MK2 Films is handling international sales, while Mubi has acquired the film for several international territories. Neon plans to campaign for the film in categories such as Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, and International Film. The film is set to be released in France on October 1st by Memento.
High Expectations
The current president of the CNC, Gaëtan Breel, praised the film, saying it is a great example of Iranian drama and a testament to the support of France for filmmakers around the world, especially those who are prevented from working in their own countries. The selection of "It was just an accident" comes after France’s close call with Jacques Audiard’s "Emilia Perez" last year, which did not take home the prize.
Previous Years’ Controversies
In previous years, France’s selection has sparked outrage among members of the local film industry. Last year’s selection of "The taste of things" over Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or winner "Anatomy of a fall" was criticized, as the latter went on to collect five nominations in other categories and took home the Oscar for Best Script.
Other French Co-Productions
Other French co-productions are also set to participate in the international feature film and other categories, including Joachim Trier’s "Sentimental value" (Norway) and Kaouther Ben Hania’s "The voice of the Hind Rajab" (Tunisia). Jim Jarmusch’s "Father mother sister brother", produced by French company CG Cinema, is also a potential contender in several categories. Neon, which is distributing "It was just an accident", is also handling the US distribution for other award-season contenders such as "No other choice", "The secret agent", and "Sentimental value".
