Overview
Freestyle Digital Media is the digital film distribution division of Allen Media Group, the media company founded by Byron Allen in 1993. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Freestyle has operated since 2010 and acquires independent films for release across major North American digital, cable, and satellite platforms. The company distributes across iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, Tubi, Peacock, and Xumo, placing content across the full breadth of the US digital streaming ecosystem.
Allen Media Group owns 13 ABC, CBS, and NBC network affiliate broadcast television stations in 11 US markets and 10 HD television networks serving nearly 275 million subscribers. In May 2026, Allen acquired a majority stake in BuzzFeed for $120 million, expanding the company's digital footprint. This corporate infrastructure gives Freestyle access to distribution channels that independent digital aggregators cannot match.
For independent filmmakers seeking VOD and streaming placement without a theatrical requirement, Freestyle is a realistic acquisition target. The company operates as a hybrid between a traditional distributor and a digital aggregator, offering more active sales and marketing engagement than pure aggregators while maintaining accessible acquisition thresholds.
History
Susan Jackson, co-founder of Freestyle Releasing, founded Freestyle Digital Media in 2010 and launched the digital VOD platform at AFM in November 2011. Jackson partnered with Steve Harnsberger as EVP of Business Development and Mark Borde as EVP of Theatrical Distribution. The company initially focused on day-and-date theatrical and VOD releases across all major connected platforms.
Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios (later Allen Media Group) acquired Freestyle, integrating it into a broader media portfolio that includes broadcast stations, HD television networks, and film production. Under Allen Media Group, Freestyle expanded its platform partnerships and release volume, positioning itself as one of the larger all-rights independent film distributors in North America.
Distribution Model
Freestyle operates a digital-first distribution model. The company acquires North American VOD rights as a baseline, with worldwide rights within its stated territory in some deals. Theatrical releases are rare and function as marketing drivers for digital revenue rather than primary revenue streams.
The company places content across major transactional VOD platforms (iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Fandango at Home), subscription streaming services (Tubi, Peacock, Xumo), and cable and satellite on-demand systems. Freestyle also handles DVD distribution through retail, kiosks, and by-mail channels. This multi-platform approach gives filmmakers access to major platforms through a single distribution relationship.
Freestyle does not operate an international sales division. Filmmakers seeking international distribution outside North America must secure separate territory deals. The company's parent, Allen Media Group, provides broadcast and cable cross-promotion opportunities that pure digital aggregators cannot offer.
Example Titles They've Released
Freestyle's catalog spans drama, documentary, thriller, horror, and genre categories. Representative releases include:
- Dear Zoe (2022) - starring Sadie Sink (Stranger Things), Theo Rossi, and Jessica Capshaw; based on the bestselling novel by Philip Beard
- Survive (2022) - starring Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins; a survival thriller
- Best Summer Ever (2021) - produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Steenburgen, and Ted Danson; an inclusive teen musical that screened at SXSW
- Allswell in New York (2024) - starring Emmy winner Liza Colon-Zayas (The Bear), Elizabeth Rodriguez, and Daphne Rubin-Vega; a Tribeca Film Festival standout
- Charliebird (2026) - winner of the Founders Award for Best US Narrative Feature at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival; directed by Libby Ewing
- The Road Dog (2023) - starring comedian Doug Stanhope
- Brothers in Blues (2023) - music documentary about Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan
Box office figures for Freestyle titles are not widely reported, as the company's releases are primarily digital-first with limited or no theatrical runs.
Deal Structure Reputation
Freestyle structures deals as a hybrid of minimum guarantee (MG) and revenue split. The company negotiates directly with filmmakers and sales agents, as demonstrated by the The Third Degree acquisition from Mind the GAP Productions and the Surrender acquisition from Long Lunch Break.
According to filmmaker reports filed with The Film Collaborative's Distributor Report Card, Freestyle's MG offers have been competitive relative to peer distributors at the same tier. One filmmaker reported that Freestyle's MG was higher than other offers received. However, the same report flagged concerns about transparency in marketing fee line items, with limited reporting on how marketing funds were spent.
Distribution fees typically fall in the 20% to 50% range common to multi-market independent distributors, with specific percentages varying by deal. Filmmakers should expect MG recoupment from their participation share before additional payments flow, following the standard IFTA distribution waterfall.
Typical Acquisition Profile
Freestyle acquires completed films in drama, documentary, thriller, horror, and genre categories. The company targets character-driven, modestly budgeted films with some form of talent attachment or festival credibility. Films with recognizable cast members (Sadie Sink, Sophie Turner, Liza Colon-Zayas) or festival awards (Tribeca Founders Award for Charliebird) align with the company's documented acquisition pattern.
The company does not accept cold script submissions. Filmmakers should approach decision makers within the Allen Media Group structure with completed or near-completed films. A festival credit or notable producer attachment strengthens the submission.
Freestyle has logged 20 tracked records over the past 12 months, reflecting a steady cadence of indie drama acquisitions. The company established a first-look deal with DePaul University's School of Cinematic Arts Indie Studio Initiative, marking a push into emerging-filmmaker content. Under this arrangement, students retain full ownership while Freestyle takes distribution rights.
Recent Slate / Acquisition Activity
Freestyle has maintained a steady release cadence in 2026, with multiple titles going live each month across digital platforms:
- Unspoken (August 4, 2026) - drama feature, acquired directly with filmmakers and Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films
- Mooch (August 14, 2026) - golf crime comedy written, directed by, and starring Jeff Ryan; acquired from the filmmaker, who retains theatrical rights through First-Names Films
- The Nation (July 3, 2026) - Native American-themed mockumentary feature
- The Third Degree (July 10, 2026) - mystery thriller, acquired from sales agent Giulia Prenna of Mind the GAP Productions
- Surrender (July 14, 2026) - family drama, director Jess Dang's debut, acquired from Long Lunch Break
- A Game of Double Standards (July 17, 2026) - sports documentary, acquired from Noon Films Ltd.
- Moonwater (June 23, 2026) - drama feature, acquired directly from filmmakers
- This Time (February 10, 2026) - romantic drama starring Ken Kirby (The Pitt), acquired from director Sebastien Tobler
- Charliebird (February 27, 2026 theatrical, March 31, 2026 streaming) - Tribeca Founders Award winner, directed by Libby Ewing
Other 2026 titles include The Curse (June 2), Gaijin (April 3), SQUATCH (March 10), The Voice That Rocked America (March 6), and Clown & Out (February 24).
What Filmmakers Should Know
Freestyle Digital Media is a realistic acquisition target for independent filmmakers with completed projects in drama, documentary, thriller, horror, and genre categories. The company's acquisition threshold is more accessible than higher-profile specialty distributors, and its high release volume means it can absorb projects with smaller commercial ceilings.
The key trade-off: Freestyle's distribution model is primarily digital-first. Theatrical releases are rare and function as marketing drivers for digital revenue. The company's value proposition is platform placement across major streaming and VOD services, not theatrical exhibition or awards-season campaigning. Filmmakers seeking traditional theatrical releases should look elsewhere.
For filmmakers outside the DePaul program, direct outreach to decision makers within the Allen Media Group structure is the recommended route. A completed or near-completed feature, ideally with a festival credit or notable producer attachment, aligns best with the company's acquisition pattern. Filmmakers should prepare for deal negotiations by researching comparable Freestyle releases in their genre and comparing specific terms (advance size, revenue share, platform coverage, marketing commitment) against offers from Gravitas Ventures, Cinedigm, and Indican Pictures.
Watch: Trailers and Interviews
See Also
For how digital-first distribution compares to theatrical-led distribution for independent films, see Streaming vs Theatrical Revenue. For alternative aggregator options, see Filmhub and Quiver Digital in this directory. To model revenue from a VOD-heavy release strategy, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator. For understanding how distribution fees and P&A recoupment affect filmmaker receipts, see What Does a Distributor Keep?.
