Josephine (2026 film)

Josephine
Directed byBeth de Araújo
Written byBeth de Araújo
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGreta Zozula
Edited by
  • Kyle Reiter
  • Nico Leunen
  • Anisha Acharya
Music byMiles Ross
Production
companies
  • Kaplan Morrison
  • Vibrato
  • Kinematics
  • Spark Features
  • Free Association
Distributed bySumerian Pictures
Release date
  • January 23, 2026 (2026-01-23) (Sundance)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Josephine is a 2026 American thriller-drama film, written, directed, and produced by Beth de Araújo. It stars Gemma Chan, Channing Tatum, Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, Michael Angelo Covino, and Mason Reeves.

The film had its world premiere at the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, where it won the Grand Jury Prize Dramatic and the Audience Award Dramatic. It had its international premiere at the main competition of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on February 20, where it was nominated for the Golden Bear.[1]

Premise

After eight-year-old Josephine witnesses a brutal assault in Golden Gate Park, she begins to experience fear and paranoia.[2]

Cast

  • Gemma Chan as Claire
  • Channing Tatum as Damien
  • Mason Reeves as Josephine, Claire and Damien's daughter who witnesses the assault
  • Philip Ettinger as Greg, a rapist
  • Syra McCarthy as Sandra, a victim of sexual assault
  • Eleanore Pienta as Kerry
  • Michael Angelo Covino as Francisco Castellanos, a lawyer
  • Dana Millican as Miss Hoffman, a lawyer[3]

Production

Beth de Araújo and her screenplay Josephine were selected for the 2018 Sundance Institute screenwriting and directing labs.[4][5] Gemma Chan was cast in 2019.[6] The project stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] In July 2024, Channing Tatum, Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, and Mason Reeves joined the cast of the film.[8] Reeves was discovered by de Araújo at the Clement Street Farmers Market.[9]

Principal photography began April 2024 in San Francisco.[10]

Release

Josephine premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2026.[11] It also screened at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in the Competition section on February 20, 2026.[12] In February 2026, Sumerian Pictures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film in a seven-figure deal.[13]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 86 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Navigating disturbing material with a remarkably deft touch, Beth De Araújo's Josephine is a masterful drama that explores the ripple effects of trauma with empathy and outstanding performances."[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 86 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[15]

References

  1. ^ "Josephine". berlinale.de. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  2. ^ "Beth de Araújo". Filmmaker. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  3. ^ "Josephine review". Variety.
  4. ^ "2018 Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab Fellows Announced". Sundance Institute. December 13, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  5. ^ O'Falt, Chris (May 22, 2018). "Sundance Directors and Screenwriters Labs Reveal the Class of 2018 — Exclusive". IndieWire. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Gemma Chan on the ‘Small Miracle’ of Making ‘Josephine’ and Why She Connected to the Film Emotionally: ‘It Really Hit a Raw Nerve’
  7. ^ Macaulay, Scott (March 23, 2022). ""There Has Been a Deliberate Rebranding of the Alt-Right Women To Have the Veneer of Smart, Sophisticated Instagram Influencers": Director Beth de Araújo and DP Greta Zozula on Soft & Quiet". Filmmaker. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  8. ^ Erbland, Kate (July 10, 2024). "Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan Are Starring in 'Soft & Quiet' Filmmaker's Decade-in-the-Making Next Film". IndieWire. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Heartbreaking San Francisco film premieres at Sundance to multiple standing ovations
  10. ^ Karoff, Timothy (July 8, 2024). "Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan have been secretly filming in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park". SF Gate. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  11. ^ Gardner, Chris (December 10, 2025). "Sundance Sets 2026 Lineup With Charli XCX, Olivia Wilde, Salman Rushdie and Courtney Love Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  12. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (January 20, 2026). "Berlinale Unveils 2026 Competition With Amy Adams Drama 'At The Sea', Karim Aïnouz's Starry 'Rosebush Pruning' & 'Rose' With Sandra Hüller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  13. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (February 14, 2026). "Sumerian Pictures Snaps Up U.S. Rights For Sundance Breakout 'Josephine'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  14. ^ "Josephine". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  15. ^ "Josephine Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.