Brad Pitt is returning to San Sebastián with ‘Heart of the Beast’ after 17 years away

Brad Pitt will return to San Sebastián after 17 years for festival screening of David Ayer's survival thriller

Brad Pitt is heading back to Spain as Heart of the Beast, his upcoming survival thriller directed by David Ayer, has been selected for the 74th SAN SEBASTIÁN FILM FESTIVAL. The Paramount Pictures production will screen out of competition in the festival’s Official Selection, with Pitt and Ayer scheduled to attend the event in person. The festival runs from September 18 to September 26, 2026.

The announcement gives Heart of the Beast a prominent international showcase ahead of its wider release. The film stars Pitt as James Belmont, a former Special Forces officer who becomes stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. His only companion is Odin, a retired combat dog, and the pair are forced to rely on each other while attempting to survive the harsh environment.

The official festival synopsis describes the film as an adventure thriller centred on survival, courage and the bond between Belmont and Odin. The story places the characters against Alaska’s unforgiving landscape, with the pair facing the elements after the devastating crash.

Ayer directs the film from a screenplay by Cameron Alexander. The project also reunites the filmmaker with Pitt following their previous collaboration on Fury, the 2014 World War II drama. Their latest project shifts the focus from wartime combat to an isolated struggle for survival, while retaining the intense action associated with Ayer’s filmmaking.

The cast includes Oscar winner J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe alongside Pitt. Pitt is also a producer on the film, working with Olivia Hamilton, Marty Bowen and Ayer. Damien Chazelle is among the executive producers attached to the project.

The San Sebastián appearance also carries personal significance for Pitt. The actor last attended the festival in 2009, when he presented Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds with the director in the Perlak section. His return therefore comes 17 years after that appearance, giving the new film an added connection to the Spanish festival.

For San Sebastián, the addition of Heart of the Beast completes the Official Selection. The 2026 edition will feature 17 films in competition, three out of competition and five Special Screenings, according to the festival. Pitt and Ayer’s presence adds one of the event’s most recognisable Hollywood pairings to this year’s programme.

Ayer has built his directing career around gritty thrillers and crime dramas, with credits including End of Watch, Fury and The Beekeeper. Heart of the Beast continues that action driven tradition while placing a strong emphasis on the relationship between its human protagonist and his former service dog.

The film is listed by the festival with a 101 minute runtime and is officially categorised as a USA production. With Pitt and Ayer both expected in San Sebastián, Heart of the Beast is positioned to receive significant attention when the festival begins on September 18.