Magnolia Pictures’ films get a new life with OCN Distribution partnership
A new era for physical media enthusiasts
In an exciting development for fans of indie cinema, Magnolia Pictures has announced a partnership with OCN Distribution, the sister company of the genre-centric home video label Vinegar Syndrome. This collaboration aims to re-release and upgrade select titles from Magnolia’s extensive library on Blu-ray and 4K UHD. The first title to benefit from this partnership is the horror comedy Murder Party, directed by Jeremy Saulnier.
A long-awaited release
Jeremy Saulnier, known for his work on Rebel Ridge, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming release. “It’s a delight to finally answer ‘fuck yes!’ to fans who’ve been asking for a Murder Party Blu-ray,” Saulnier said. “I’m really stoked about higher resolution video and amazing new art from Chris at Brutal Posters. Working with Justin LaLiberty at Vinegar Syndrome for this release has been exciting and collaborative, and it’s a great comfort to know my first film is in the right genre-loving hands.”
Magnolia Pictures: A legacy of indie excellence
Founded in 2001 by Bill Banowsky and Eamonn Bowles, Magnolia Pictures quickly established itself as a reliable distributor of foreign and independent films. Their first title was Wendigo, directed by Larry Fessenden. Over the years, Magnolia and its genre imprint Magnet Releasing have brought us films from notable directors like Lodge Kerrigan (Keane), Rodrigo Garcia (Nine Lives), Steven Soderbergh (Bubble), Bong Joon-ho (The Host), Ti West (The House of the Devil), and Nicolas Winding Refn (the Pusher trilogy, Bronson).
The importance of physical media
A spokesperson for Magnolia highlighted the significance of this new partnership: “Our partnership with Vinegar Syndrome [and OCN Distribution] further opens the door for us to meet the evolving needs of the fans of our films in a way that focuses on heightening the collectability of physical media by celebrating the uniqueness of our illustrious indie film pedigree. This new partnership highlights the importance that physical home video releases still hold for some consumers, and it affords us the opportunity to reinvigorate our catalog in a way that is evocative of the expansive needs of the home entertainment market.”
Expanding OCN’s distribution network
The addition of Magnolia Pictures to OCN’s distribution network is a significant milestone. OCN already boasts an impressive list of partners, including the American Genre Film Archive, Dark Star Pictures, Factory 25, Music Box Films, and Utopia. The announcement of this partnership coincides with the renewal of OCN’s relationships with IFC Films and Shudder through 2025, with nearly 30 releases planned for the upcoming year.
Justin LaLiberty of Vinegar Syndrome commented on the partnership: “2024 was a banner year for OCN, and IFC Films and Shudder were a huge part of that. We are eager to continue working with two of the most identifiable, and successful, brands in the marketplace that are synonymous with quality curation.”
A bright future for indie film collectors
LaLiberty concluded, “Adding Magnolia to the OCN family only strengthens what we have been building over the past few years, aiming to give the very best physical media presentation to the films that we, and many others, are eager to have on our shelves.”
For cinema enthusiasts, this partnership represents a golden opportunity to revisit and collect some of the most influential indie films of the past two decades. Whether you’re a fan of horror, drama, or experimental cinema, the collaboration between Magnolia Pictures and OCN Distribution promises to deliver high-quality releases that celebrate the art of filmmaking.
For more information and to watch trailers of the mentioned films, visit the following links: