There are few cinematic experiences more infuriating than watching a great movie during a film festival only for it to disappear, never to return to the big screen. Today, the Alamo Drafthouse has announced a new initiative, Alamo Exclusives, intended to fill that exact gap and get films without distribution before moviegoers.
The new series will complement existing Alamo programming like Fantastic Fest Presents and Drafthouse Recommends. However, where those series put an extra spotlight on movies that already have some kind of distribution, Alamo Exclusives will bring unreleased independent films that previously screened at festivals including Sundance, Cannes, Berlin, and more back to the screen.
Michael Kustermann, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, called the program “a natural extension” of the Drafthouse’s long history of highlighting independent films and filmmakers “because we know our audiences value discovering great cinema. Time and again, they’ve shown they’ll come out to support bold, original films when given the opportunity.”
The first film to be selected is a South by Southwest favorite: Butthole Surfers: The Truth and Nothing Butt, which screened at last year’s festival to raucous crowds before going on to win the SXSW Best of Texas Award. However, it still lacks traditional theatrical distribution. The chaotic history of the Texas musical mavericks will arrive in Alamos nationwide later this summer, with tickets going on sale at drafthouse.com on July 21. Director Tom Stern thanked the Drafthouse for picking his film to kick off the series, adding, “I love that Alamo audiences are passionate moviegoers who genuinely embrace great documentaries and independent cinema. Knowing this film will be experienced on big screens by that kind of audience makes this release especially meaningful.”
Lisa Dreyer, Director of Fantastic Fest and Film Innovation, said that the team was “thrilled” to kick off the program with “a film that’s bold, entertaining, unapologetically original, and deeply connected to Austin’s creative DNA.” However, it’s just the first of what may be many such films. Filmmakers and sales agents can find eligibility rules and submit their film via filmfreeway.com/AlamoExclusives.
