Streaming platform MUBI has landed distribution rights to Coward, Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont’s upcoming World War I drama, across major territories including the UK, Ireland, Australia, and much of Europe. The deal covers the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Turkey.
The film is headed to next year’s Cannes Film Festival, where it will compete for the Palme d’Or. It marks the third time Dhont has made it into Cannes competition—his previous features Girl and Close both premiered there as well.
Set in 1916 in the trenches, Coward centers on a young Belgian soldier who forms an unlikely friendship with a charismatic comrade. The two stage a theatrical performance as a way to cope with the horrors of war around them. The film explores themes of friendship, identity, and humanity amid the brutality of conflict.
Emmanuel Macchia, Valentin Campagne, and Jonas Wertz lead the cast. Dhont co-wrote the script with longtime collaborator Angelo Tijssens, with production taking place across Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.
For MUBI, the acquisition fits squarely into its push to bolster its roster of auteur-driven festival fare. The company previously distributed Dhont’s Close in multiple regions and has increasingly positioned itself as a go-to distributor for prestige international cinema. The latest deal signals a deepening partnership between the filmmaker and the streaming platform.
