Independent distributor Sumerian Pictures has officially established a theatrical release schedule for Josephine, the sophomore feature drama written and directed by filmmaker Beth de Araújo. The film is scheduled to open in select theaters on November 20, 2026, before expanding nationwide on December 4.
The project held its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in January, where it received both the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award. Drawing inspiration from de Araújo’s personal childhood experiences, the narrative focuses on eight-year-old Josephine, portrayed by newcomer Mason Reeves in her feature acting debut. After witnessing a violent crime during an outing with her father in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, the young girl undergoes severe psychological fallout.
As Josephine begins processing the trauma and acting out, her parents struggle to guide her through the emotional disruption while grappling with their own fears, communication barriers, and conflicting approaches to helping their daughter. Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan star as Josephine’s parents, leading a core cast that includes Philip Ettinger, Syra McCarthy, and Eleanore Pienta.
In addition to writing and directing, de Araújo produced Josephine alongside David Kaplan, Josh Peters, Marina Stabile, Mark H. Rapaport, Josh Beirne-Golden, and Crystine Zhang. Lead actors Tatum and Chan also serve as producers on the project. The film marks de Araújo’s follow-up to her 2022 feature directorial debut, Soft & Quiet.
The release date confirmation follows the debut of the official teaser trailer, which depicts the central family dynamic and the investigative environment surrounding the young protagonist following the incident.
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