Oscilloscope Pictures has taken North American rights to Kurt Kuenne's Slamdance and SXSW documentary Dear Zachary.

The New York-based company will release Dear Zachary in theatres in partnership with the newly formed MSNBC Films on October 31 in New York, marking MSNBC Films' first release.

Dear Zachary is Kuenne's attempt to investigate the murder of his best friend. His inquiries lead him to the discovery that the killer was bearing his friend's child.

The deal was finalised at Toronto between Oscilloscope's David Fenkel and Josh Braun of Submarine on behalf of the filmmaker and MSNBC Films.