San Sebastián Film Festival Adds David Ayer’s “Heart of the Beast” Starring Brad Pitt to Official Lineup

David Ayer’s latest film, “Heart of the Beast,” starring Brad Pitt, has been added to the official lineup for this year’s San Sebastián Film Festival, according to Deadline. The festival said the movie will screen out of competition, a category that typically allows films to be shown for audiences and press without being entered for the competition awards at the event.

Deadline reported that Ayer and Pitt are expected to attend the festival in connection with the screening. The addition follows the film’s announcement and positions the production as a high-profile title for the festival slate, given Pitt’s star power and the director’s prior work in major studios.

“Heart of the Beast” is a Paramount film, Deadline said. The studio involvement also indicates mainstream distribution and marketing support as the project moves through the festival circuit and toward a wider release plan.

The story follows Pitt as a Special Forces officer, Deadline reported, with the narrative built around his work alongside others during the course of the mission. While Deadline’s description cut off the additional plot details, it establishes the film’s action-and-service framework and the central role played by Pitt’s character.

A film debuting in a high-visibility festival slot can affect how distributors, international buyers, and media outlets assess a project’s audience potential. Even when shown out of competition, festival programming can still shape early critical reception and generate industry attention, especially for studio-backed productions.

The San Sebastián Film Festival lineup expansion underscores the continued role of major stars and recognizable filmmakers in festival scheduling. For audiences attending the event, the screening offers a structured, formal entry point for a prominent Hollywood title, rather than an unscheduled premiere or festival-adjacent screening.

As of publication, Deadline’s report did not indicate whether the screening would be the film’s first appearance publicly, nor did it specify dates or additional cast and crew who would participate. The festival’s published program, ticketing information, and on-site schedule will provide the full operational details for attendees and the press.