AceShowbiz - Jafar Panahi, the acclaimed Iranian filmmaker known for It Was Just an Accident, is scheduled to face a retrial in Iran on accusations of "propaganda against the regime."

The retrial has been ordered by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, following an initial sentence handed down in absentia. Panahi was previously sentenced to one year in prison and a two-year ban on filmmaking. At the time of the original sentencing, Panahi was outside Iran promoting It Was Just an Accident, a film that won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and received an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature category representing France.

After the Oscar ceremony, Panahi returned to Iran, crossing the border on March 30 amid the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and the Iranian government. He has since been summoned to appear in court on May 20 as part of the retrial proceedings.

Panahi has a history of legal struggles with the Iranian authorities. In 2022 and 2023, he spent 86 days imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison on charges related to anti-government activities dating back to 2010. His release came after a hunger strike and a successful appeal that led to the dismissal of the original charges.

During his incarceration, Panahi met political prisoner and activist Mehdi Mahmoudian. Together, they co-wrote the screenplay for It Was Just an Accident, a thriller centered on a former political prisoner who kidnaps the man he believes tortured him and wrestles with whether to exact revenge or offer forgiveness.

Mahmoudian was re-arrested earlier this year and detained for 17 days on charges of "insulting the Supreme Leader" and "propaganda against the Islamic Republic." His detention followed the publication of an opinion piece condemning the Iranian government’s violent crackdown on protesters. This crackdown has been associated with mass civilian casualties, with tens of thousands reportedly killed.

The news of Panahi’s retrial was first reported by Iranian film journalist Mansour Jahani. The case highlights ongoing tensions between Iranian artists and the government, as well as the continued risks faced by dissidents and cultural figures in the country.

As the retrial date approaches, the international film community is closely monitoring the situation involving Jafar Panahi, whose work remains a powerful voice of resistance and reflection within Iranian cinema.