Screen Media Acquires Cowboy Doc ‘Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde’

The film examines the life of Dayton O. Hyde and his efforts to preserve the West while managing the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota

Screen Media Films has acquired the North American rights to "Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde," a documentary about the life of activist, best-selling author, and cowboy Dayton O. Hyde, the company announced on Thursday.

Directed by Suzanne Mitchell, the film focuses on Hyde maintaining his 12,000-acre sanctuary for wild horses in South Dakota as he works tirelessly to protect the vanishing landscape of the American West.

"Running Wild" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and went on to win the Audience Award at the Sarasota Film Festival.

Screen Media plans to release the film nationally in theaters and on VOD day-and-date in October. 

"We feel honored to bring this truly amazing story of Dayton Hyde to the American public," Screen Media president Suzanne Blech said in a statement. "Suzanne Mitchell has captured the beauty, the soul and the spirituality of this American Hero as he continues his work in conservation and saving the wild mustang."

The deal was negotiated by Blech and Seth Needle, Manager of Acquisitions and Marketing, on behalf of Screen Media with Peter Broderick on behalf of the filmmakers.

Watch the trailer below:

Running Wild trailer from Suzanne Mitchell on Vimeo.

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