Brad Pitt Returns to San Sebastián for Out-of-Competition Screening of *Heart of the Beast*

The 74th San Sebastián Film Festival will present *Heart of the Beast* in its Official Selection, screening out of competition. Both star Brad Pitt and director David Ayer are slated to attend the event in person. The festival runs from September 18 to September 26, 2026, and the film’s presence marks Pitt’s first appearance at San Sebastián since 2009, when he presented *Inglourious Basterds* alongside director Quentin Tarantino.

EuronewsExpress TribuneHollywood ReporterDeadline HollywoodVariety Magazine

*Heart of the Beast* is an adventure-survival thriller set in the Alaskan wilderness. Pitt portrays James Belmont, a former Army Special Forces officer who survives a small-plane crash with Odin, his retired combat dog. The pair must navigate harsh terrain, evade wildlife and find a way back to civilization. The screenplay was written by Cameron Alexander. The cast includes Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons and Inuit actress Anna Lambe.

Express Tribune

Paramount Pictures is producing the film, which is categorized as a United States production with a runtime of 101 minutes. Production credits list Brad Pitt, Olivia Hamilton, Marty Bowen and David Ayer as producers; executive producers include Damien Chazelle, Scott Lumpkin, Chris Long, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, Andrew Lary, Sophie Cassidy and Zack Conroy. The project is a collaboration among Wild Chickens, Temple Hill, Kino World, Domain Entertainment and Gulfstream Pictures.

Variety Magazine

The Official Selection for the 74th edition comprises 17 films in competition, three out-of-competition titles—including *Heart of the Beast*—and five special screenings. Other notable out-of-competition entries include Mike Leigh’s *Tender Loving Care* and Pablo Larraín’s *My Sad Dead*, the latter presented as a world-premiere feature-length adaptation of Mariana Enríquez’s short stories. The festival’s Perlak sidebar will also showcase Penélope Cruz in Olivia Wilde’s *The Invite* and a cameo by Cruz in Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s *La bola negra*.

Deadline Hollywood

Pitt’s return to San Sebastián underscores the festival’s growing profile as a venue for high-visibility Hollywood releases. The screening offers an early international showcase ahead of the film’s wider theatrical rollout. The collaboration reunites Pitt and Ayer after their 2014 World War II drama *Fury*, shifting their partnership from wartime combat to isolated wilderness survival while retaining Ayer’s signature action-driven style.

Express Tribune

Paramount Pictures has scheduled the worldwide theatrical release of *Heart of the Beast* for September 25, 2026. The festival screening therefore serves as a pre-release platform, providing press exposure and audience feedback just days before the film reaches cinemas.

Euronews

The combination of a major star, a seasoned director and a prominent festival slot positions *Heart of the Beast* for significant attention both in Spain and internationally as the San Sebastián Festival concludes on September 26, 2026.

Express Tribune