Richard Abramowitz and Kirt Eftekhar’s fledgling event-based distributor Area23a has picked up an award winning documentary favourite from the festival circuit.

The LA and New York-based company has taken US rights to Best Worst Movie, Michael Paul Stephenson’s directorial debut that has played in official selection in more than 30 festivals.

The film received its world premiere at SXSW 2009 and has received several awards including the Top Ten Audience Favorite at Hot Docs 2009. Area23a will release theatrically in Austin, Los Angeles, New York and other markets in spring.

Best Worst Movie chronicles the rise of Troll 2 from its critically panned roots to its eventual status as a cult film beloved by genre fans.

Stephenson and his wife Lindsay Stephenson produced through their Magic Stone Productions and negotiated the deal with Area23a. Brad Klopman also served as producer. 

“Our movie – that we have devoted the last four years to – can not be in better hands than with Area23a,” the Stephensons said. “They have demonstrated their ability to skillfully handle specialised films in a crowded market place. The recent success of Anvil! is only the most recent example of Richard’s expertise in theatrical film distribution.” 

“We are very excited to bring Best Worst Movie to theatres across the country,” Abramowitz, said. “The movie has been generating both incredible word-of-mouth and critical acclaim through the festival circuit. Audiences are appreciating the film’s humour and are also moved by its homage to bad movies and, at least in this case, the good people who make them.”

Abramowitz has served as an independent marketing and distribution consultant and continues to run the distributor Abramorama, which in its ten-year history has handled releases of Sacha Gervasi’s Anvil! The Story Of Anvil, John Turturro’s Romance And Cigarettes, Neil Young’s Greendale, and the upcoming Jonathan Demme film Neil Young Trunk Show.

Eftekhar has produced and distributed event-driven films such as Big Rig, Porn Star: The Legend Of Ron Jeremy, and the upcoming documentary Wild In The Streets.

Area23a is currently distributing Soundtrack For A Revolution, The Mighty Uke, American Harmony, and They Came To Play. Later this year it will release Sandy Cioffi’s Sweet Crude.