Mubi made its first major acquisition of this year's Cannes Film Festival by purchasing Lukas Dhont's 'Coward' before the awards ceremony. The film, which has secured all rights for North America, is a drama set during World War I that tells a queer love story amidst the horrors of war. Prior to Cannes, Mubi had also secured many international rights for 'Coward', obtaining rights in regions such as the United Kingdom/Ireland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Latin America, and Australia/New Zealand.

This acquisition is recorded as Mubi's first local purchase at this year's Cannes festival. Two years ago, Mubi achieved significant success by acquiring Demi Moore's standout film 'The Substance' at Cannes. This horror/satire film by Coralie Fargeat grossed over $17 million at the US box office. Last year, Mubi's major acquisition at Cannes was Lynne Ramsay's 'Die My Love', but that film only managed to gross $5.5 million.

'Coward' tells a love story between Pierre (newcomer Emmanuel Macchia), who is newly assigned to the front and struggling to prove himself, and the flamboyant character Francis (Valentin Campagne), who organizes a theater performance to boost his friends' morale. In this environment where violence erupts, the romance between the two men grows as they seek ways to escape the brutality of war.

The film is a project that Dhont worked on with screenwriter Angelo Tijssens, known for 'Girl' and 'Close'. Additionally, Dhont's brother and producer Michiel Dhont is also involved in the project. 'Coward' promises viewers a profound experience by presenting both the horrors of war and the power of love.