Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary!
by Alex Billington
June 8, 2026
Source: YouTube
“The Piano deserves its place as a classic.” Sony Pictures Classics has revealed their new official trailer for the 4K restoration and re-release of the iconic Jane Campion film The Piano from 33 years ago in 1993. The film won not only the Palme d’Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival (though it was tied with Farewell My Concubine), it also won 3 Oscars including Best Screenplay, plus Best Actress & Best Supporting Actress, and 3 BAFTA Awards, 1 César Awards, and many others. The new 4K restoration’s digital transfer and color grading were supervised and approved by Jane Campion and her cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh. It’s also getting a 4K Criterion release along with a theatrical run this July in art house theaters during this summer – obviously a must watch on the big screen if it’s playing near you. In the mid-19th century a mute woman is sent to New Zealand along with her young daughter and prized piano for an arranged marriage to a farmer, but is soon lusted after by a farm worker as well. Featuring Holly Hunter as Ada, Harvey Keitel, Sam Niell, Anna Paquin, Kerry Walker, and Genevieve Lemon. Looking better than ever! And now is the perfect time to re-discover this classic and introduce it to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet. Have a look below.
Here’s the new 4K restoration trailer (+ posters) for Jane Campion’s The Piano, direct from YouTube:
Ada –mute since birth – her 9 year old daughter and piano arrive to an arranged marriage in the remote bush of 19th century New Zealand. Of all her belongings her husband refuses to transport the piano and it is left behind on the beach. Unable to bear its certain destruction, Ada strikes a bargain with an illiterate tattooed neighbour. She may earn her piano back if she allows him to do certain things while she plays; one black key for every lesson. The arrangement draws all 3 deeper & deeper into a complex emotional, sexual bond remarkable for its naive passion and frightening disregard for limits. The Piano is written and directed by the award-winning New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion, her fourth film at the time after An Angel at My Table (1990) and before The Portrait of a Lady (1996) next. Produced by Jan Chapman. With music by Michael Nyman. This first premiered at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Palme d’Or (in a tie) and it opened in the US later in 1993. Sony Classics is re-releasing Campion’s The Piano in 4K starting in select US theaters on July 24th, 2026 coming soon. Anyone count this as a favorite already?
