Brad Pitt is heading back to the San Sebastián International Film Festival with his latest project, Heart of the Beast, marking his first appearance at the prestigious Spanish event in more than 15 years.
The survival thriller, directed by David Ayer, will screen out of competition in the Official Selection at the festival’s 74th edition, which runs from September 18 to 26.
Pitt and Ayer are both expected to attend the screening, turning the film into one of the festival’s most high-profile premieres.
Brad Pitt returns to San Sebastián
Pitt last attended the festival in 2009, when he arrived with Quentin Tarantino to present Inglourious Basterds in the Perlak section.
Seventeen years later, he is returning with a very different kind of film.
Heart of the Beast places Pitt at the centre of a survival story built around isolation, danger and an unusually important co-star: a combat dog named Odin.
A brutal fight for survival in Alaska
In the film, Pitt plays James Belmont, a former Special Forces officer who survives a devastating plane crash with his retired combat dog.
Stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness, the pair are forced to battle extreme conditions while attempting to survive and find their way back to safety.
The story is designed around the relationship between Belmont and Odin, turning the bond between man and dog into the emotional centre of the thriller.
The film runs for 101 minutes and also stars J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe.
Pitt reunites with David Ayer
The project brings Pitt back together with director David Ayer after their collaboration on the 2014 war drama Fury.
Ayer has built much of his career around intense, character-driven stories, with films including End of Watch, Fury, The Beekeeper and A Working Man.
Before moving into directing, he also worked as a screenwriter on films including U-571 and Training Day.
Heart of the Beast was written by Cameron Alexander, while Pitt is also involved behind the camera as one of the film’s producers.
The dog becomes one of the film’s biggest stars
A major part of the film’s appeal comes from Odin, played by a German Shepherd named Uber.
Pitt has previously spoken about the importance of building a genuine relationship with his canine co-star during production, describing the bond between the two characters as fundamental to the movie.
The film was shot in New Zealand, which doubles for the remote Alaskan wilderness and provides the dramatic natural setting for much of the story.
A major addition to the festival lineup
The inclusion of Heart of the Beast completes San Sebastián’s 2026 Official Selection.
This year’s programme features 17 films competing for awards, three titles screening out of competition and five Special Screenings.
Pitt’s appearance adds considerable star power to an edition already built around a mix of international filmmakers and major new releases.
Theatrical release follows days later
The festival screening will arrive shortly before the film reaches wider audiences.
Paramount Pictures is scheduled to release Heart of the Beast in cinemas on September 25, 2026.
That means San Sebastián will effectively serve as one of the film’s major international showcases immediately before its theatrical launch.
Another ambitious chapter for Brad Pitt
For Pitt, Heart of the Beast continues a run of projects that combine large-scale filmmaking with director-driven material.
This time, however, the spectacle is deliberately stripped back.
There are no superheroes or sprawling ensemble casts at the centre of the story — just one man, one dog and an unforgiving wilderness.
And with Pitt returning to San Sebastián for the first time since 2009, the film’s festival appearance is likely to become one of the standout red-carpet moments of this year’s edition.
