Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Beth de Araújo’s Josephine Premieres in Sundance U.S. Dramatic Competition

Early reviews highlight an unflinching child’s‑eye portrayal of trauma rooted in the filmmaker’s own past.

Overview

  • The feature debuted at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.
  • The narrative centers on an eight-year-old in San Francisco who witnesses a sexual assault in Golden Gate Park and grapples with its psychological aftermath.
  • Newcomer Mason Reeves stars as Josephine, with Channing Tatum as her father Damien, Gemma Chan as her mother Claire, and Philip Ettinger as the alleged attacker.
  • Critics describe the film as a heartsick, tough watch that employs an immersive child perspective and unsparing treatment of on‑screen violence.
  • The film is seeking U.S. distribution, with CAA/WME handling sales, and has a 1 hour 59 minute running time with producing credits that include David Kaplan, Josh Peters, and Beth de Araújo.