Janus Films Acquires U.S. Rights to "Dao" Following Berlinale Competition Premiere
February 27, 2026
Janus Films has acquired U.S. distribution rights to "Dao," directed by Alain Gomis, following its premiere in Competition at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (February 13–22, 2026).
The film unfolds across France and Guinea-Bissau around a family divided between Europe and West Africa, staging a wedding and a commemoration in parallel.
Gomis, as an established Franco-African filmmaker whose previous features have secured international distribution, now adds Janus Films as the North American home for "Dao."
For the uninitiated, Janus Films and The Criterion Collection (operator of the Criterion Channel) are sister subsidiaries under the same parent ownership.
The acquisition positions Gomis's sixth feature in 26 years for a U.S. theatrical release under the Janus banner.