Kino Lorber Acquires North American Rights to Javier Bardem's 'The Beloved' Ahead of Toronto Premiere

Kino Lorber has acquired North American distribution rights to The Beloved (El Ser Querido), Rodrigo Sorogoyen's Spanish-language father-daughter drama starring Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo, with plans for a theatrical release in early 2027 and an Oscar campaign for its lead actor (Deadline).

The film, written by Sorogoyen and his frequent collaborator Isabel Peña, follows an acclaimed Spanish director, played by Bardem, who reunites with his estranged daughter (Luengo), a struggling actress, to shoot a film together. It screened in the Competition section at this year's Cannes Film Festival and will have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

For Bardem, the role carries awards weight. Kino Lorber is expected to campaign the actor for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. Bardem already holds an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, as the coin-flipping hitman Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men (2007), and has four career nominations. Sorogoyen himself is no stranger to the Academy; his 2019 live-action short Madre earned an Oscar nomination.

The distribution plan is deliberately staggered. The Beloved opens theatrically in Spain on 26 August, followed by a qualifying run in the United States later in 2026 — a limited release designed to meet the Academy's eligibility window — before Kino Lorber widens it to key markets in early 2027. Digital, educational and home video releases follow.

There is a separate race running alongside the Oscar question. Spain has yet to name its entry for the Best International Film category at the Oscars, and The Beloved faces competition from La Bola Negra, another title from this year's Cannes selection. Spain's committee was expected to announce its pick in September.

Behind the deal, Kino Lorber's VP of Acquisitions Karoliina Dwyer negotiated the North American rights with Eva Diederix of Goodfellas, the international sales agent. The Beloved is a Movistar Plus Original Film, coproduced with Caballo Films, El Ser Querido AIE and Le Pacte. Nacho Lavilla and Eduardo Villanueva produced; Bardem and Clara Lago serve as executive producers.

The film has already been building a festival trail beyond Cannes. Australian distributor Madman Films released the official trailer on 5 August ahead of three screenings at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 13, 16 and 19 August (Madman Films). Madman will handle the Australian theatrical release.

For audiences, what makes this worth tracking is the talent convergence. Sorogoyen is one of Spain's most respected directors working today; Bardem is a four-time Oscar nominee anchoring a deeply personal story about artistic ego and family fracture. The reception at Cannes already signalled the film's ambition: Deadline's Damon Wise called it "an incredible achievement" and wrote that Bardem's career "has been building up to this stunning moment." Kino Lorber's Chief Distribution & Revenue Officer Lisa Schwartz echoed that sentiment, praising the film for drawing the viewer in "from the very first moments" and calling the two leads' performances "tour de force."

The calendar now is tight. A Toronto premiere, a Spanish opening two days later, a U.S. qualifying run by year's end, and a full release months after that — every date is a deliberate step toward awards season.