Oscar-Nominated Film Co-Writer Detained in Iran Weeks Before Academy Awards
Mehdi Mahmoudian, a co-writer of the Oscar-nominated film It Was Just an Accident, has been arrested in Tehran just weeks before the Academy Awards ceremony. The human rights campaigner was detained on Saturday after signing a statement that condemned Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, for recent bloodshed in the country.
Political Statement Leads to Arrest
The statement signed by Mahmoudian declared that "the primary responsibility for these atrocities lies with Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and the repressive structure of the regime." Two additional signatories from the group of seventeen, Vida Rabbani and Abdullah Momeni, have also been arrested according to reports. Iranian authorities have not yet released information about the specific charges against the detained individuals.
Film's Critical Acclaim and Oscar Prospects
It Was Just an Accident has received significant international recognition, having won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival in 2025. The film is now a contender for two Academy Awards at the upcoming ceremony on 15th March, competing in the categories of best international feature film and best screenplay.
The film follows a group of Iranian former political prisoners who must decide whether to seek revenge against a man they believe tortured them during their imprisonment. Mahmoudian's personal experience proved invaluable to the project's development.
Prison Experience Informs Screenplay
Mahmoudian, who is primarily known as a journalist and human rights activist, served nine years in prison where he met veteran director Jafar Panahi. After Mahmoudian's release, Panahi asked him to refine the dialogue in the screenplay, drawing directly on his extensive experience of life behind bars.
In a statement shared with media outlets, Panahi praised Mahmoudian's character, highlighting his "calm demeanor," "kind conduct," and "rare sense of responsibility toward others." The director described how Mahmoudian became "a quiet pillar inside the prison – someone inmates of all beliefs and backgrounds trusted and confided in."
Broader Political Context
The arrests occur against a backdrop of ongoing political tension in Iran. Major protests erupted in several parts of the country in late December against the regime's handling of Iran's deepening economic crisis. The government responded with internet blackouts and severe crackdowns on demonstrators.
While Iran's official death toll from recent unrest stands at 3,117 according to the Martyr's Foundation, networks of medical professionals both inside and outside the country have estimated that the actual number of fatalities could exceed 30,000. This significant discrepancy highlights the contested nature of information surrounding recent events in the country.
Panahi concluded his statement by emphasizing Mahmoudian's unique role, describing him as "not just a human rights activist and a prisoner of conscience; he is a witness, a listener, and a rare moral presence – a presence whose absence is immediately felt, both inside prison walls and beyond them."
