Sumerian Pictures has secured U.S. distribution rights for the Sundance award-winning film Josephine in a seven-figure deal, committing to a major theatrical release and awards campaign. The drama, directed by Beth de Araújo and starring Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan, explores a family's psychological struggles after their daughter witnesses a crime. The acquisition signals positive momentum for the independent film sector amid recent successes.
At the European Film Market on the fringes of the Berlin International Film Festival, Sumerian Pictures announced it had clinched U.S. rights for Josephine, which won both the Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The film, written, produced, and directed by Beth de Araújo, follows eight-year-old Josephine (Mason Reeves) who witnesses a crime in Golden Gate Park, leading her parents (Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan) to grapple with her trauma and their own fears. Additional cast includes Philip Ettinger and Syra McCarthy.
The multimillion-dollar deal, negotiated by Sumerian Pictures President Rob Williams with WME Independent and CAA Media Finance, beat out multiple rivals and marks a significant expansion for the distributor, known primarily for music publishing in rock and metal genres. Sumerian founder Ash Avildsen, son of Oscar-winning director John G. Avildsen, and Williams described the film as "an enthralling, deeply emotional, and powerful film that deserves all the acclaim and accolades it has already received from Sundance." Director Araújo expressed pleasure at partnering with the company, noting its commitment to bringing audiences to theaters.
Produced by David Kaplan, Josh Peters, Beth de Araújo, Marina Stabile, Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan, Mark H. Rapaport, and Crystine Zhang, the film was financed by Kinematics, Spark Features, Yintai, Vibrato, and Free Association. It is Araújo's second feature following Soft & Quiet, which premiered at SXSW in 2022 and was acquired by Blumhouse.
WME Independent co-head Alex Walton, who co-repped domestic rights, discussed the project's development in an EFM talk. He recounted meeting Araújo and producer Kaplan four years prior at Sundance, with agent Abe Benigio championing the script. Walton highlighted the film's appeal, backed by stars like Tatum and Chan, and a budget assembled through soft and private money. He noted multiple strong offers, stating, "They’re spoilt for choice in a good way, with people who are making very aggressive... offers in terms of how they would bring this movie and this subject, which feels so vital to us."
The deal comes amid renewed energy in the indie sector, with Walton citing recent launches of distributors like Row K and Black Bear's arm, alongside box office successes of films such as Nuremberg and The Housemaid. Nuremberg, a historical drama handled by WME Independent, has performed well in theaters and transactionally, while The Housemaid is projected for five million admissions in France. Walton emphasized that theatrical releases serve as a "shop window" in a broader ecosystem including streaming and other media.
Josephine will screen in main competition at the Berlin Film Festival starting February 20, 2026, with Goodfellas handling international sales. Its Sundance double win echoes achievements by Minari and CODA in 2021, fueling early awards buzz for the 2026-27 season.
