Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s (The Beasts) The Beloved, a father-daughter character study starring Academy Award-winner Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo.

Directed by Sorogoyen and written by Sorogoyen and frequent collaborator Isabel Peña, the film was met with critical acclaim following its World Premiere in Competition at the 2026 Cannes International Film Festival. The Beloved will next make its North American premiere as a Special Presentation at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival and will continue to screen on the international film festival circuit this fall. The film will be released theatrically in Spain on August 26 followed by a qualifying run in the U.S. later this year. Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical release in early 2027 in key markets, followed by a digital, educational, and home video release.

In the film, “Celebrated Spanish film director Esteban Martínez is a legend, both for his films and for his past marked by addiction, violence, and excess. Returning to his home country for a new project after fifteen years abroad, he offers his long estranged daughter Emilia a role under the pretext of helping her with her stalled acting career. Living together on set will foster a closeness they haven’t shared for years, but it will also reopen old wounds that never healed.”

The deal for The Beloved was negotiated by Kino Lorber VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer and Eva Diederix of Goodfellas.

“I am absolutely pleased that Kino Lorber—a 100% independent company fully committed to the importance of the theater experience—will be distributing our film in the U.S. The taste they have demonstrated throughout their career, their discernment, and their track record of bringing international auteur cinema to audiences assure us that The Beloved is in the best possible hands. It is an agreement I welcome with great enthusiasm,” said Rodrigo Sorogoyen.  

“The Beloved draws you into its world from the very first moments, and it’s immediately clear that you’re in the hands of a master filmmaker,” said Lisa Schwartz, Chief Distribution & Revenue Officer for Kino Lorber. “Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo deliver tour de force performances as father and daughter, and it’s thrilling to watch these incredibly gifted actors match each other at every turn. We’re excited to partner with Rodrigo and the film team to bring The Beloved to North American audiences.”

The Beloved is a Movistar Plus Original Film in coproduction with Caballo Films, El Ser Querido AIE, and Le Pacte. The film is produced by Nacho Lavilla and Eduardo Villanueva and executive produced by Javier Bardem and Clara Lago.