Fishing Without Nets and The Internet’s Own Boy are the subject of innovative strategies that underline the changing face of distribution.

Youth-oriented content producer Vice has partnered with Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Alamo Drafthouse and Tugg on Fishing Without Nets, the thriller that earned Cutter Hodierne best director honours at Sundance this year.

The story of a young Somali lured into the world of piracy to support his family is the first in a series of anticipated Vice Films productions and will launch day-and-date to own on Digital HD, via rental on VOD and in limited theatres.

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will collaborate with Vice to market and distribute the film digitally, Alamo Drafthouse will oversee theatre engagements in select markets and Tugg will manage nationwide influencer and crowd sourced screenings including Vice-Night themed events.

Meanwhile FilmBuff and Participant Media have unveiled a multi-platform release pattern for documentary The Internet’s Own Boy on June 27.

The film will subsequently air in its broadcast premiere on Participant’s television network Pivot later this year.

Brian Knappenberger’s film also premiered in Park City and will open exclusively at the IFC Center in New York and at the Sundance Cinemas in Los Angeles as well as theaters in 15 other markets nationwide.

It will be available to rent for $6.99 on all VOD platforms including Vimeo On Demand, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Comcast and DirecTV and, for the first month of release, will be offered to own exclusively through Vimeo On Demand for $9.99.

The Internet’s Own Boy tells the story of Reddit co-founder and information activist Aaron Swartz’s legal battle over information access that culminated with his suicide at the age of 26.

Participant Media will launch a social action campaign in support of the release.

  • North American rights holder Starz Digital Media has struck a first-window deal with DIRECTV on Sundance documentary selection To Be Takei. The film will screen on the platform exclusively from July 3-August 5 prior to theatrical and digital release on August 22.

Topics