Music Box Films Acquired Steal This Story, Please!
The distributor has secured North American rights for the award-winning documentary centered on Amy Goodman.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Documentary
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Music Box Films has officially acquired North American theatrical and home entertainment rights for the documentary Steal This Story, Please!. Directed by Carl Deal and Tia Lessin, the film chronicles the career of journalist Amy Goodman.
Why it matters
The acquisition follows a successful theatrical run that saw the documentary gain critical and audience attention following its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. The deal expands the film's reach beyond its initial limited release into wider digital and home media formats.
The documentary grossed nearly $1 million across more than 50 markets and secured 11 audience awards during its festival run. It originally opened with over $30,000 during its first weekend at New York's IFC Center.
The players
Music Box Films
This independent film distributor is known for bringing acclaimed international and documentary titles to American audiences.
Amy Goodman
She is an American broadcast journalist, columnist, and investigative reporter best known as the host of the independent news program Democracy Now!.
Carl Deal
He is an award-winning filmmaker and producer who has directed several notable social-issue documentaries.
Tia Lessin
She is an Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker who frequently collaborates on projects focusing on social justice and politics.
The details
Steal This Story, Please! documents the life and work of journalist Amy Goodman and was helmed by directors Carl Deal and Tia Lessin. The film enjoyed a successful 12-week holdover period at the IFC Center in New York following its spring debut.
Timeline
The documentary premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in 2025.
The film opened at the IFC Center in New York in April 2026.
A live online screening is scheduled for October 13, 2026.
The documentary will arrive on digital platforms on October 20, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The acquisition highlights the ongoing trend of documentary films leveraging festival circuit buzz to secure long-term distribution deals. This shift reflects a strategic move by distributors to capitalize on the sustained popularity of non-fiction storytelling in the streaming era.
Viewers will be able to access the film through an upcoming live online screening on October 13, 2026. Following this event, the documentary will be available for purchase on digital platforms and physical media like DVD and Blu-ray starting October 20, 2026.
The takeaway
The transition of this film to digital platforms highlights the growing accessibility of independent journalism documentaries for home audiences. Interested viewers should look for the digital release late in October to catch the film after its successful theater run.
Further reading
Explore more industry news in the Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Variety.
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