Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan Sundance Drama ‘Josephine’ Sells to Sumerian Pictures in Seven-Figure Deal
“Josephine,” a psychological thriller starring Channing Tatum, Gemma Chan and newcomer Mason Reeves, has been acquired for the U.S. by Sumerian Pictures in a competitive seven-figure deal.
Sumerian, which was founded by Ash Avildsen as an artist-led independent creative studio and recently expanded into film distribution, has committed to a major theatrical release and awards campaign for the film.
“Josephine” made its world premiere at this year’s Sundance, moving audience members to tears and becoming the festival’s first sensation. It’s set to debut internationally at the Berlin Film Festival next week. The heart-wrenching drama is a work of autobiographical fiction from writer-director Beth de Araújo about an 8-year-old who witnesses a rape in Golden State Park. De Araújo’s on-screen proxy is Reeves, whom she discovered by canvassing a farmer’s market in their native San Francisco. Tatum and Chan play Josephine’s parents, who must navigate the little girl’s trauma amid the quest for justice for the survivor. The A-listers also served as producers on the project.
“It was magic when her audition tape came in,” the filmmaker, named one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch for 2026, told Variety about Reeves. “She’s never acted before, but she’s an incredibly smart and emotionally intelligent person.”
“I’m pleased to see that Sumerian has emerged as a new distribution company, made up of people who love films and are committed to inviting audiences into the theaters,” de Araújo said in a statement.
Avildsen and Sumerian Pictures president Rob Williams, who negotiated the deal with WME Independent and CAA Media Finance, added that “Josepihne” is “an enthralling, deeply emotional and powerful film that deserves all the acclaim and accolades it has already received from Sundance. We are so thrilled to be working with Beth de Araújo and the whole team to bring this to audiences with Sumerian Pictures.”
Sumerian Pictures’ upcoming theatrical slate includes the rom-com “Mile End Kicks,” David Verbeek’s “The Wolf, the Fox and the Leopard,” “Broken Voices” from Ondřej Provazník and “Horsegirls” directed by Lauren Meyering.
“Josephine’s” emotional Park City premiere on Jan. 23 marked a full-circle experience for De Araújo, since she developed the material through the Sundance Institute’s directors’ lab. The director wiped away tears as she was welcomed to the stage at the Eccles with a standing ovation; the crowd continued to clap and cheer as the cast joined her with Tatum picking up his pint-sized co-star to swing her around with glee.
“It may sound strange to use the word ‘subtle’ to describe a film that opens with a brutal assault, and yet, de Araújo excels in constructing a universal human experience out of incredibly specific details (whether drawn from memory, research or her imagination),” Variety’s Peter Debruge wrote in his review of the film, where he also praised the actors for their powerful and nuanced performances.
“Josephine” is de Araújo’s second feature after the single-shot thriller, 2022’s “Soft & Quiet,” which debuted at SXSW and was subsequently acquired by Blumhouse. The film was released that fall by Momentum Pictures.
Sumerian, which was founded by Ash Avildsen as an artist-led independent creative studio and recently expanded into film distribution, has committed to a major theatrical release and awards campaign for the film.
“Josephine” made its world premiere at this year’s Sundance, moving audience members to tears and becoming the festival’s first sensation. It’s set to debut internationally at the Berlin Film Festival next week. The heart-wrenching drama is a work of autobiographical fiction from writer-director Beth de Araújo about an 8-year-old who witnesses a rape in Golden State Park. De Araújo’s on-screen proxy is Reeves, whom she discovered by canvassing a farmer’s market in their native San Francisco. Tatum and Chan play Josephine’s parents, who must navigate the little girl’s trauma amid the quest for justice for the survivor. The A-listers also served as producers on the project.
“It was magic when her audition tape came in,” the filmmaker, named one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch for 2026, told Variety about Reeves. “She’s never acted before, but she’s an incredibly smart and emotionally intelligent person.”
“I’m pleased to see that Sumerian has emerged as a new distribution company, made up of people who love films and are committed to inviting audiences into the theaters,” de Araújo said in a statement.
Avildsen and Sumerian Pictures president Rob Williams, who negotiated the deal with WME Independent and CAA Media Finance, added that “Josepihne” is “an enthralling, deeply emotional and powerful film that deserves all the acclaim and accolades it has already received from Sundance. We are so thrilled to be working with Beth de Araújo and the whole team to bring this to audiences with Sumerian Pictures.”
Sumerian Pictures’ upcoming theatrical slate includes the rom-com “Mile End Kicks,” David Verbeek’s “The Wolf, the Fox and the Leopard,” “Broken Voices” from Ondřej Provazník and “Horsegirls” directed by Lauren Meyering.
“Josephine’s” emotional Park City premiere on Jan. 23 marked a full-circle experience for De Araújo, since she developed the material through the Sundance Institute’s directors’ lab. The director wiped away tears as she was welcomed to the stage at the Eccles with a standing ovation; the crowd continued to clap and cheer as the cast joined her with Tatum picking up his pint-sized co-star to swing her around with glee.
“It may sound strange to use the word ‘subtle’ to describe a film that opens with a brutal assault, and yet, de Araújo excels in constructing a universal human experience out of incredibly specific details (whether drawn from memory, research or her imagination),” Variety’s Peter Debruge wrote in his review of the film, where he also praised the actors for their powerful and nuanced performances.
“Josephine” is de Araújo’s second feature after the single-shot thriller, 2022’s “Soft & Quiet,” which debuted at SXSW and was subsequently acquired by Blumhouse. The film was released that fall by Momentum Pictures.