Sundance Opener "HOWL" Heads To Oscilloscope

A scene from "Howl." Image courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Oscilloscope Laboratories has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Academy Award winning documentarians Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's first narrative feature "HOWL." Starring James Franco as a young Allen Ginsberg, the film depicts how Ginsberg's seminal work - the poem "HOWL" - broke down societal barriers in the face of an infamous public obscenity trial. It was the opening night film at 2010 Sundance Film Festival, and also screened in competition at the Berlinale. Oscilloscope will release "HOWL" in theaters and VOD on September 24, 2010.

"At O-Scope we love working with passionate, creative filmmakers who make entertaining and meaningful films," David Fenkel, co-founder of Oscilloscope said in a statement, "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."

"We're very happy that 'HOWL' has found the perfect home and partners," Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman added. "Oscilloscope is the coolest company around."

Also featuring David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Bob Balaban, Alessandro Nivola, Treat Williams, Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels, "HOWL" was produced by Elizabeth Redleaf and Christine Kunewa Walker of Werc Werk Works, and Epstein and Friedman. It received a somewhat mixed response. Read indieWIRE's review here.