Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s distribution arm Drafthouse Films has acquired North American rights to Jeff Howlett and Mark Covino’s SXSW-bound documentary A Band Called Death.

The film will screen in Austin next month in the 24 Beats Per Second category and chronicles the rebirth and rise to cult stardom of the early 1970s African-American punk pioneers.

Howlett and Covino were inspired to make the film following the discovery of a little-known demo tape more than 30 years after the band were active.

Drafthouse Films has scheduled a theatrical and VoD release for A Band Called Death this summer.

The documentary premiered at the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival last year and is a Haven Entertainment and OGB production in association with Howlermano Productions. Matthew Perniciaro and Kevin Mann of Haven produced with Scott Mosier of OGB and Jerry Ferrara.

James Emanuel Shapiro negotiated on behalf of Drafthouse Films with Cinetic Media on behalf of the producers.

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