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Janus Films
Janus Films is the benchmark North American boutique distributor for auteur international cinema and classic restorations, arriving at Cannes 2026 with two high-profile acquisitions already confirmed.
Current mandate
Janus Films is actively acquiring North American rights to auteur-driven international features and prestige restorations for theatrical distribution. At Cannes 2026, the company confirmed two acquisitions: Valeska Grisebach's Competition title The Dreamed Adventure and Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Kokurojo: The Samurai and the Prisoner (Cannes Premiere). Separately, the company acquired North American rights to Bi Gan's Cannes prize-winner Resurrection, according to recent coverage. The company's current theatrical footprint also includes the nationwide wide release of Compensation, a 4K restoration of Zeinabu irene Davis's 1999 film, which opened to sold-out and near-capacity screenings in New York and marks the film's first wide U.S. release just over 25 years after its festival debut.
Over the past 12 months, Janus has maintained a consistent pattern of pairing restoration-driven re-releases with new international acquisitions, often leveraging Criterion Channel exposure to build audience awareness ahead of theatrical runs. The acquisition of The Love That Remains (January 2026) and the ongoing Compensation rollout illustrate a dual-track strategy: surfacing underseen or historically marginalized titles alongside fresh festival acquisitions from European and Asian auteurs. The company frequently operates in tandem with Sideshow for distribution of prestige international titles, though it also moves independently.
Filmmakers and sales agents seeking Janus consideration should approach through established festival markets, particularly Cannes, where the company has demonstrated consistent acquisition activity. Janus does not publicly advertise an open submissions process; the most reliable access pathway is through a recognized international sales agent or via direct contact with one of the 17 tracked decision makers at major market events.
Signature peaks
- 4K Restoration Compensation Wide Release — Nationwide U.S. release with 5.1 surround and expanded captioning; sold-out New York screenings reported
- 2 Acquisitions Cannes 2026 Activity — Grisebach and Kurosawa titles both acquired for North American rights during the festival
- 17 Tracked Decision Maker Depth — Broad internal team tracked across acquisition, distribution, and restoration functions
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- Drama, International, Arthouse, Animation, Samurai, Historical
- Territory focus
- North America
- Budget tier (observed)
- Under $10M
- Access pattern
- Janus Films acquires primarily through major international festival markets, with Cannes representing the most documented point of entry. Sales agents with prestige international titles are the preferred intermediary. The company operates with 17 tracked decision makers and occasionally partners with Sideshow for distribution. No open public submissions process is advertised.
- Deal structure
- North American theatrical rights acquisitions, budget range under $10M. Individual deal amounts not publicly disclosed. Titles are typically paired with Criterion Channel exposure for audience development ahead of or alongside theatrical runs. Distribution is handled independently or in partnership with Sideshow depending on the title.
Recent acquisitions
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Acquired North American
Acquired North American rights to Bi Gan's Cannes prize-winner 'Resurrection'.
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Resurrection
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Resurrection (Bi Gan)
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The Dreamed Adventure
Janus Films acquires all North American rights to Cannes Jury Prize winner 'The Dreamed Adventure' directed by Valeska Grisebach
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The Love That Remains
Market context
"The new nationwide Janus release of Compensation is a 4K digital restoration with a 5.1 surround soundtrack, including expanded and more sophisticated on-screen captioning to create a more inclusive experience for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences while enriching the experience for hearing people."
Prestige international cinema continues to find theatrical audience in North America through boutique arthouse distribution; Janus remains the gold standard for European and Asian auteur acquisitions.
Common questions about Janus Films
Does Janus Films accept unsolicited script or film submissions?
Janus Films does not maintain a public open-submissions policy. The company's acquisition history points overwhelmingly to titles arriving via international sales agents or through major festival markets, particularly Cannes. Filmmakers without sales representation are unlikely to reach decision makers through cold outreach. The most practical route is securing a recognized sales agent who already has a working relationship with the Janus acquisitions team, which reportedly includes 17 tracked decision makers.
What budget range does Janus Films target for acquisitions?
Janus Films operates in the under-$10M acquisition budget range, consistent with boutique arthouse distribution economics. Individual deal amounts for recent acquisitions, including The Dreamed Adventure, Kokurojo, Resurrection, and The Love That Remains, have not been publicly disclosed. The company's focus on prestige international titles and restorations suggests deal terms are structured around North American theatrical rights rather than large upfront guarantees typical of studio-level acquisitions.
Which film festivals does Janus Films actively acquire from?
Cannes is the most clearly documented acquisition market for Janus Films, with at least two confirmed acquisitions from Cannes 2026 alone (The Dreamed Adventure and Kokurojo: The Samurai and the Prisoner) and the Bi Gan prize-winner Resurrection also attributed to a Cannes context. The company's broader catalog and restoration activity suggest ongoing attention to Berlin, Venice, and other major international festivals, though Cannes represents the most traceable recent acquisition pipeline.
How do I reach Janus Films to pitch a film?
The most reliable access pathway is through a recognized international sales agent at a major market, particularly Cannes. Janus has 17 decision makers tracked across its operation. The company also works in tandem with Sideshow on distribution of prestige international titles, so a relationship with either entity can be relevant. There is no publicly listed acquisitions submission portal. Festival programmers and sales companies with existing Janus relationships represent the most direct line of contact.
What genres and types of films is Janus Films acquiring right now?
Janus Films is currently focused on auteur-driven international features and classic restorations for North American theatrical release. Recent acquisitions span European arthouse (Valeska Grisebach's The Dreamed Adventure), Japanese genre-inflected prestige cinema (Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Kokurojo), and Chinese festival prize-winners (Bi Gan's Resurrection). On the restoration side, the company is actively releasing 4K restorations of historically significant American independent films, as demonstrated by the nationwide rollout of Zeinabu irene Davis's Compensation.
Is Janus Films currently active in acquisitions?
Yes. Janus Films is demonstrably active, with two acquisitions confirmed at Cannes 2026 and a nationwide theatrical release of Compensation underway as of mid-2026. The company logged 52 total records over the past 12 months and 1 unique deal in both the 30-day and 90-day windows, reflecting a selective but consistent acquisition pace. The latest tracked signal is dated June 25, 2026, indicating ongoing market engagement. Preliminary plans for a UK release of Compensation are also reportedly in place.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
- Focus Features — Focus Features is doubling down on experiential brand-building and festival acquisitions to court th
- Roadside Attractions — Roadside Attractions is a North American boutique distributor actively acquiring festival-originated
- Fox Entertainment — Fox Entertainment is running a deliberate, low-volume acquisition strategy built around creator-led,
- 20th Television — 20th Television is actively building its overall-deal roster and deepening its animation pipeline, w
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