Oscilloscope Laboratories will distribute Sundance opener "Howl" in the U.S., with a Sept. 24 theatrical and VOD release scheduled, the company announced Thursday.
"Howl" is the first narrative feature from documentary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.
Starring James Franco as Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, "Howl" interweaves the stories of the infamous public-obscenity trial centered on the poem with a portrait of the poet as a young man.
The film was the opening-night feature for the 2010 Sundance Film festival and played in competition at the Berlin Film Festival.
Producers are Elizabeth Redleaf and Christine Kunewa Walker of Werc Werk Works, and Oscar winner Epstein and Emmy winner Friedman.
Co-starring with Franco are David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Bob Balaban, Alessandro Nivola, Treat Williams, Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.
Oscilloscope co-founder David Fenkel said in a statement, “At O-Scope we love working with passionate, creative filmmakers who make entertaining and meaningful films, and the team behind 'Howl' perfectly fit this profile. They put together a great cast, lead by a performance by James Franco that people will be talking about for years.”
