Janus Films Buys Alain Gomis’s Family Epic ‘DAO’ for North America (EXCLUSIVE)
#Janus Films#Alain Gomis#DAO#Berlin Film Festival#North American distribution#family epic#Silver Bear#The Party Film Sales
📌 Key Takeaways
Janus Films acquired 'DAO' for North American distribution
The film premiered in competition at Berlin Film Festival
Gomis previously won Silver Bear for 'Félicité' nine years ago
'DAO' has emerged as one of the best-reviewed films at the festival
📖 Full Retelling
Janus Films has acquired French director Alain Gomis's family epic 'DAO' for North American distribution following its world premiere in competition at the Berlin Film Festival on February 26, 2026, marking the prestigious distributor's recognition of the film that has emerged as one of the best-reviewed works at the festival. Represented internationally by The Party Film Sales, 'DAO' represents Gomis's return to the Berlinale nine years after his Silver Bear win for 'Félicité,' establishing a significant milestone in the director's career trajectory. The acquisition underscores the growing international appetite for African diaspora stories and family narratives that transcend cultural boundaries, positioning Janus Films to bring this highly anticipated work to North American audiences who have increasingly sought diverse cinematic experiences. As Gomis's sixth feature film, 'DAO' has already generated critical acclaim during its festival run, with particular praise for its ambitious scope and intimate character study that explores generational ties and identity across continents.
🏷️ Themes
Film distribution, International cinema, African diaspora stories
The Berlin International Film Festival (German: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (German pronunciation: [bɛʁliˈnaːlə] ), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since ...
Alain Gomis (born 6 March 1972) is a French-Senegalese film director and screenwriter. Most known for his films about contemporary life in West Africa, exploring rituals, memory, and culture.
His Félicité (2017) won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, while Today (2012) and Dao (2026) were nominated f...
Janus Films is an American film distribution company. The distributor is credited with introducing numerous internationally-produced arthouse films, now considered masterpieces of world cinema, to American audiences, including the films of Michelangelo Antonioni, Sergei Eisenstein, Ingmar Bergman, F...
Feb 26, 2026 2:10am PT Janus Films Buys Alain Gomis’s Family Epic ‘DAO’ for North America Alain Gomis' follow up to 'Felicité,' ‘DAO’ world premiered in competition at the Berlin Film Festival. By Elsa Keslassy Plus Icon Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent @elsakeslassy Latest Janus Films Buys Alain Gomis’s Family Epic ‘DAO’ for North America 4 minutes ago Catherine Deneuve Co-Authors ‘Marilyn Chérie,’ Timed to Marilyn Monroe’s 100th Birthday 25 minutes ago Berlinale Staffers Voice Support for Festival Chief Tricia Tuttle in Open Letter 1 hour ago See All French director Alain Gomis ‘ “ DAO ,” a sprawling family epic which world premiered in competition at the Berlin Film Festival , has been acquired by Janus Films for North American distribution. Represented internationally by The Party Film Sales, the film marked Gomis’ return to the Berlinale nine years after winning the Silver Bear for “Félicité.” Gomis’ sixth feature, “DAO” emerged as one of the best reviewed films of the festival. Related Stories 'No Good Men' Review: Unexpected Berlinale Opener Finds Love in a Hopeless Patriarchy
