WANA (Jan 23) – As the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the final shortlist for the 2026 Academy Awards, the name of renowned Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi appeared among the nominees in the Best Screenplay category.

 

The screenplay for A Simple Accident, competing this year as France’s official entry, managed to capture the attention of the Academy and secured a place among the selected works in this category.

 

According to the announced list, Sinners, with 16 nominations, leads the race for the major awards at the 2026 Oscars and is considered the front-runner of this year’s ceremony. Alongside it, the return of Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio to the Oscar competition after a six-year absence has also drawn significant media attention. DiCaprio has been nominated for Best Actor for his role in One Battle After Another.

 

Panahi’s nomination in the screenplay category is seen by many film observers as a sign of the Academy’s continued interest in auteur cinema and independent storytelling—particularly given that A Simple Accident is a transnational production competing under the French banner.

 

The 2026 Academy Awards will be held in the coming months, with competition between big-budget Hollywood productions and independent international films shaping what is expected to be one of the most compelling editions of the Oscars in recent years.

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