AceShowbiz - Mubi has obtained worldwide distribution rights to the documentary Nuisance Bear, directed by Gabriela Osio Vanden and Jack Weisman, the company revealed Wednesday. The film had its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, competing in the U.S. Documentary Competition category, where it earned the prestigious U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize.

Mubi will share detailed release information soon, promising audiences access to this compelling documentary both in theaters and on digital platforms globally.

Nuisance Bear represents the feature-length debut for Osio Vanden and Weisman, expanding on their critically acclaimed 2021 short film of the same name. That short premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was shortlisted for the Academy Awards. The feature film delivers an immersive, character-driven exploration of a polar bear adapting to a world dramatically altered by human influence.

In her review for TheWrap, Elizabeth Weitzman noted that while the original 14-minute short conveyed a focused, deliberate observation, the feature-length version “ultimately allows passion to overshadow precision,” highlighting the filmmakers’ desire to dive deeper into the subject matter with a more expansive narrative approach.

In a joint statement, Osio Vanden and Weisman explained, “A ‘nuisance bear’ is defined as a bear that has lost its fear of humans. The animals we label as unwanted often reveal a great deal about us. We were drawn to a bear no one wanted because its story felt deeply human.” They added that the project began over a decade ago during a formative time both personally and creatively, saying, “We were falling in love—with each other, and with the world of these bears.”

The filmmakers emphasized their commitment to creating bold and original nonfiction cinema, expressing excitement about partnering with Mubi, a platform known for championing unique cinematic voices, to bring Nuisance Bear to global audiences.