Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to Rodrigo Sorogoyen's 'The Beloved', Starring Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo
“An incredible achievement. Javier Bardem’s career has been building up to this stunning moment.”
– Damon Wise, Deadline
“Fierce, unflinching and insightful. Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s superbly acted and dramatically compelling study of generational rifts, gender divides and the deep, unhealing scars in a father-daughter relationship has a muscular, propulsive momentum.”
– Wendy Ide, Screen International
“An acute study of the delicate balancing acts of those two ensemble efforts: filmmaking and parenting…Bardem and Luengo are both terrific as the skittish central duo.”
– Raphael Abraham, Financial Times
Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beloved, a fiercely compelling father-daughter character study starring Academy Award-winner Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo. Directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen and written by Sorogoyen and frequent collaborator Isabel Peña, the film was met with enthusiastic critical acclaim following its World Premiere in Competition at the 2026 Cannes International Film Festival, with particular praise for Sorogoyen’s direction and Bardem and Luengo’s powerhouse performances. 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.
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. Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen (The Beasts) returns with this powerful father-daughter drama, deftly displaying his unique mastery of emotional tension in a riveting actors showcase for Victoria Luengo and Javier Bardem.
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.