Austin, TX — July 1, 2026 — Today, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema announced the launch of ‘Alamo Exclusives,’ a first-of-its-kind theatrical distribution program that brings festival-premiered independent films nationwide directly to Alamo Drafthouse screens nationwide. Like its iconic genre celebration, Fantastic Fest, and editorial series, Drafthouse Recommends, the program furthers the dine-in circuit’s commitment to bold programming and independent filmmaking.
Through ‘Alamo Exclusives,’ the company will offer limited-run theatrical engagements to standout titles without distribution from festivals including Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, TIFF, Cannes, Berlin, and its own Fantastic Fest, creating a new path to theatrical exhibition at a time when access to screens has become increasingly difficult. The company will work directly with filmmakers to bring these films to audiences nationwide, providing premium presentation, marketing support, and meaningful theatrical exposure.
Launching the program is SXSW hit documentary “Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt,” the acclaimed documentary chronicling the wild, influential, and deeply Austin-rooted story of legendary punk band Butthole Surfers. The film will receive an exclusive theatrical engagement across Alamo Drafthouse locations nationwide late this summer, with tickets going on sale July 21st at Drafthouse.com.
“From the very beginning, Alamo Drafthouse has championed independent film and built strong relationships with filmmakers because we know our audiences value discovering great cinema,” says Michael Kustermann, CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. “Time and again, they’ve shown they’ll come out to support bold, original films when given the opportunity. ‘Alamo Exclusives’ is a natural extension of that. It gives us another way to champion filmmaker-driven films that deserve to be discovered and connect them with the wider Alamo Drafthouse audience.”
“Too many incredible films premiere at festivals and then never receive the theatrical life they deserve,” says Lisa Dreyer, Director of Fantastic Fest and Film Innovation. “We are actively searching for films across all genres, from horror to comedy, to everything in between, to champion in this new, exciting way. We’re thrilled to launch the program with ‘Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt,’ a film that’s bold, entertaining, unapologetically original, and deeply connected to Austin’s creative DNA. We couldn’t imagine a better film to kick off this new chapter.”
“I’m so grateful that Alamo Drafthouse believes in this film and chose it to kick off the ‘Alamo Exclusives’ distribution program,” said Tom Stern, Director of ‘Butthole Surfers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt.’” “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.”
The new ‘Alamo Exclusives’ distribution program builds on Alamo Drafthouse’s existing efforts to create unique theatrical experiences, playing more movies than any other theater in the world. Through its Alternative Content slate, Alamo Drafthouse already presents repertory programming, filmmaker-driven releases, special events, and exclusive engagements unavailable anywhere else. Under the new initiative, films released through the program will be clearly designated as an ‘Alamo Exclusive,’ reinforcing the company’s commitment to offering audiences distinctive cinematic experiences beyond the traditional studio marketplace.
Additional direct distribution titles will be announced in the coming months. Filmmakers and sales agents interested in participating in the program can find submission details at filmfreeway.com/AlamoExclusives.
10k
20k
1.5k
2.2k