Gemma Chan Stars in Sundance Winner 'Josephine' About Family Coping with Trauma

The film explores the aftermath of an 8-year-old girl witnessing a brutal rape in a San Francisco park.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Gemma Chan stars in the drama 'Josephine', which centers on a family grappling with the emotional toll after the 8-year-old daughter witnesses a brutal rape in a San Francisco park. The film, written and directed by Beth de Araújo, is based on the filmmaker's own personal experiences and explores the family's difficult decision of whether to allow the child to testify in court. 'Josephine' premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize Dramatic and the Audience Award Dramatic.

Why it matters

The film's sensitive subject matter and personal narrative from the writer-director resonated strongly with Gemma Chan, who has her own experience testifying in court after witnessing a fatal stabbing. Experts believe 'Josephine' is poised to generate significant critical attention and spark important conversations about how individuals and families cope with trauma and violence.

The details

Chan was the first actor to join the project after receiving the script in 2019, praising writer-director Beth de Araújo's authentic vision. Despite production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the film continued to resonate with both Chan and de Araújo, with Chan and co-star Channing Tatum also taking on producer roles to help bring the story to fruition.

  • The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in January.
  • It was selected for the main competition at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in February.

The players

Gemma Chan

An actress who stars as Claire, the mother in the film.

Beth de Araújo

The writer and director of 'Josephine', who based the story on a similar event from her own childhood.

Channing Tatum

An actor who stars as Damien, the father in the film, and also served as a producer.

Mason Reeves

The young actor who plays Josephine, the 8-year-old daughter.

David Kaplan

The producer who helped support the project during the COVID-19 pandemic delays.

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What they’re saying

“It was a big part of me wanting to be a part of the story and connecting to it emotionally.”

— Gemma Chan (newsy-today.com)

“It's a minor miracle that the film was made and I'm so proud of it.”

— Gemma Chan (newsy-today.com)

“The film asks the question, 'How does a young person deal with the violence of the world?' And really, that can extend to all of us. How do we persevere, how do we respond, how can we overcome fear and hatred and trauma and still hold onto our humanity? And that's a question that I consider is really important for where we are at the moment in the world.”

— Gemma Chan (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

The film is expected to secure distribution in Europe and continue generating critical acclaim and awards season buzz following its Sundance and Berlin Film Festival premieres.

The takeaway

Gemma Chan's personal connection to the sensitive subject matter of 'Josephine' and the film's powerful exploration of how families cope with trauma and violence could position it as an important and timely cinematic work that sparks crucial conversations.