Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated
Roadside Attractions
Roadside Attractions is a boutique North American distributor specializing in festival-originated genre films, crossover comedies, and prestige theatrical events, with a sharp focus on horror and crowd-pleasing fare from Sundance and SXSW.
Current mandate
Roadside Attractions occupies a well-defined lane in the boutique distribution landscape: festival-originated films with genuine theatrical ambitions, released into carefully chosen calendar windows where genre audiences and awards-season momentum can be leveraged simultaneously. The company's most visible recent institutional commitment is its distribution of the 98th Oscar Nominated Shorts, presented by Taika Waititi, across U.S. and Canadian theaters on February 20, 2026, as three feature-length programs covering Animated, Documentary, and Live Action categories. The Academy has licensed Roadside the right to use the Oscar trade name for this presentation, underscoring the company's standing as a trusted theatrical partner for prestige programming beyond conventional feature acquisitions.
Roadside's recent acquisition pattern reflects a clear genre tilt. The company co-acquired "Buddy," a horror comedy and Sundance Midnight selection directed by Casper Kelly, alongside Saban Films, with a September 4, 2026 wide theatrical release planned. It followed that almost immediately with "Crawlers," a spider-horror thriller starring Matilda Lutz, also co-acquired with Saban Films and slated for an October 2, 2026 theatrical release. Both deals were completed without disclosed budgets, consistent with the company's under-$5M acquisition tier. Earlier acquisitions in the tracked window include "A Great Awakening" and "H Is for Hawk," as well as a family-oriented title whose seeking statement from Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff emphasized cross-generational audience appeal and environmental themes. The pattern across all these titles is consistent: festival pedigree, genre or crossover identity, and a clear theatrical release strategy.
Material reaches Roadside primarily through the festival circuit, with Sundance and SXSW functioning as the most documented sourcing points. The Saban Films co-acquisition structure on consecutive genre titles also points to producer and sales-agent relationships as a key pipeline. No unsolicited submission pathway is documented in tracked deal activity; every observed acquisition traces back to a festival premiere, a sales agent, or an established co-distribution partner relationship.
Signature peaks
- 2 titles with Saban Films Co-Acquisition Genre Push — Buddy and Crawlers acquired consecutively, both targeting wide theatrical genre windows in fall 2026.
- 98th Academy Cycle Oscar Shorts Distributor — Roadside holds the Academy-licensed right to present Oscar Nominated Shorts theatrically across the U.S. and Canada.
- Sundance Midnight + SXSW Festival Sourcing Depth — Tracked acquisitions consistently trace to major North American festival premieres as the primary sourcing route.
Mandate dimensions
- Genre focus
- drama, documentary, comedy
- Territory focus
- domestic (U.S.)
- Budget tier (observed)
- Not disclosed
- Access pattern
- Every acquisition tracked by ScriptMatch traces to a festival premiere, a sales agent, or a co-distribution partner relationship, with Sundance and SXSW functioning as the most documented sourcing festivals. The company's consecutive co-acquisitions with Saban Films on Buddy and Crawlers also point to established sales-agent and partner pipelines as a primary route by which material reaches Roadside's acquisition team.
- Deal structure
- Roadside Attractions acquires North American theatrical distribution rights to completed films, frequently structuring deals as co-acquisitions with partners such as Saban Films to share risk on wide theatrical releases. Acquisitions are typically made without publicly disclosed price terms, consistent with boutique-level deals in the under-$5M tier.
Recent acquisitions
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A Great Awakening
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Buddy
Casper Kelly directorial debut; Sundance Midnight selection; September 4, 2026 wide theatrical release; co-acquired with Saban Films
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Crawlers
Spider-horror thriller starring Matilda Lutz; October 2, 2026 theatrical release; co-acquired with Saban Films
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H Is for Hawk
-
The Pod Generation
Market context
Roadside's co-acquisition strategy with Saban Films on back-to-back genre titles signals a deliberate push to share risk on wide theatrical releases in premium calendar windows.
Roadside Attractions occupies a well-defined lane in the boutique distribution landscape: festival-originated films with genuine theatrical ambitions, released into carefully chosen calendar windows where genre audiences and awards-season momentum can be leveraged simultaneously. The company's most visible recent institutional commitment is its distribution of the 98th Oscar Nominated Shorts, presented by Taika Waititi, across U.S. and Canadian theaters on February 20, 2026, as three feature-length programs covering Animated, Documentary, and Live Action categories. The Academy has licensed Roadside the right to use the Oscar trade name for this presentation, underscoring the company's standing as a trusted theatrical partner for prestige programming beyond conventional feature acquisitions.
Common questions about Roadside Attractions
Does Roadside Attractions accept unsolicited scripts or films?
No unsolicited submission pathway is documented in Roadside Attractions' tracked deal activity. Every acquisition observed by ScriptMatch traces to a festival premiere, a sales agent relationship, or a co-distribution partner such as Saban Films. If you have a completed film or a project with producer attachment, the most reliable route is through a sales agent or by premiering at a festival Roadside actively scouts, particularly Sundance and SXSW.
What budget range does Roadside Attractions typically acquire at?
Roadside Attractions operates in the under-$5M acquisition tier. Budget terms on recent deals, including the horror comedy Buddy and the spider-horror thriller Crawlers, were not publicly disclosed, which is typical for boutique theatrical acquisitions at this level. The company's focus on festival-originated independent films is consistent with lower-budget productions that carry strong genre identity or crossover audience appeal rather than large production budgets.
What festivals does Roadside Attractions source films from?
Sundance and SXSW are the most consistently documented sourcing points in Roadside's tracked acquisition activity. The acquisition of Buddy, a Sundance Midnight selection directed by Casper Kelly, is a recent example. The company's content focus statement specifically names Sundance and SXSW as primary markets, alongside other major festivals. Films with strong festival premieres in genre, horror, or crossover categories appear to be the most reliable entry point into Roadside's acquisition pipeline.
How do I get my film or script in front of Roadside Attractions?
Based on observed deal flow, the most documented routes to Roadside Attractions are through a sales agent or by premiering a completed film at a major festival such as Sundance or SXSW. The company's recent back-to-back co-acquisitions with Saban Films also suggest that established producer and sales-agent relationships are a meaningful pipeline. No open submission portal or direct pitch program is documented in ScriptMatch's tracked activity for this buyer.
What genres is Roadside Attractions currently acquiring?
Roadside's current acquisition pattern leans into horror, horror comedy, and genre-bending crossover films with theatrical ambitions. Recent acquisitions include Buddy, a horror comedy from Sundance Midnight, and Crawlers, a spider-horror thriller starring Matilda Lutz, both targeting fall 2026 wide theatrical releases. The company also pursues crowd-pleasing, cross-generational fare, as reflected in Co-Presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff's public comments about family-oriented and nature-themed titles.
Is Roadside Attractions currently active in the acquisition market?
Yes. ScriptMatch's tracking shows two deals closed within the most recent 90-day window, both co-acquired with Saban Films and both carrying confirmed wide theatrical release dates in fall 2026. The company is also actively distributing the 98th Oscar Nominated Shorts program in February 2026, a multi-title theatrical event across the U.S. and Canada. With 44 total records tracked over the past 12 months and 25 decision makers monitored, Roadside remains an active buyer in the boutique theatrical space.
Adjacent buyers in this lane
- Beta Cinema — Beta Cinema is a Munich-based international sales agent specializing in arthouse and literary-adapta
- Starz — Starz is a premium cable and streaming network doubling down on wholly owned scripted drama and inte
- Cineflix Rights — Cineflix Rights is a genre-focused international distributor and co-production financier specializin
- Filmax — Filmax is a Spanish distributor and co-producer with a long track record in genre cinema, currently
Related reading
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