March 24, 2022

“FREAKSCENE: THE STORY OF DINOSAUR JR.” featuring Dinosaur Jr, members of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, The Pixies, and more, set for a special May 31st theatrical event release

Utopia has acquired the North American rights to FREAKSCENE: THE STORY OF DINOSAUR JR., the feature documentary that charts the legacy of Dinosaur Jr., set for a one-night-only special theatrical event release nationwide on May 31st and digital release on June 3rd. Theatrical event tickets will go on sale on April 19th.

Ahead of the May 31st theatrical release, Utopia will host a special New York Premiere in partnership with Murmrr at The Opera House in Brooklyn, New York on May 28th, followed by a special Q&A and solo performance from J Mascis. Tickets are available now at: https://wl.seetickets.us/event/FREAKSCENE-The-Story-of-Dinosaur-Jr/474507?afflky=Murmrr

FREAKSCENE: THE STORY OF DINOSAUR JR. celebrates one of the most influential acts in alternative rock, from their formation in the mid-1980s to their reunion concert celebrating their 30th anniversary, and introduces viewers to the introverted power trio behind Dinosaur Jr. – Lou Barlow, J Mascis and Murph – who quietly opened the door for the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, The Cure and Soundgarden.

Directed by Philipp Reichenheim, German filmmaker and J Mascis’ brother-in-law, the documentary features exclusive interviews with the trio and some of their musical contemporaries, including members of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and The Pixies, painting a portrait of a groundbreaking period in American music as well as a poignant rumination on friendship and personal growth.

On making the film, director Philipp Reichenheim said: "It seems to me retrospectively that when I heard one of the first superb Dinosaur Jr. albums in 1987, my 16 year-old artistic unconsciousness was inspired to make a documentary about them. FREAKSCENE is a visual tribute to the dynamite sound and story of the band and their iconic anti-hero members, and I'm thrilled to be working with Utopia on sharing it with the world."
"FREAKSCENE viscerally captures the joyous quirkiness and emotional resonance of one of rock music's weirdest - and most influential - bands. Utopia is honored to be entrusted with bringing the miracle that is Dinosaur Jr. into peoples' lives through this film." added Danielle DiGiacomo, Head of Original Content at Utopia.

About UTOPIA

Utopia is a film distribution and sales company that specializes in independent and documentary cinema. Recent titles include the TIFF breakout comedy and Spirit Award nominated Shiva Baby by Emma Seligman; Dasha Nekrasova’s Berlinale premiere The Scary of Sixty-First; and Sundance and New Directors/New Films 2021 selection El Planeta from Amalia Ulman. Upcoming releases include Cannes and NYFF selections Vortex by Gaspar Noe and Jane by Charlotte by Charlotte Gainsbourg; as well as Jane Schoenbrun’s We’re All Going to the World’s Fair

Utopia has since launched Utopia Originals, a division dedicated to the development,

packaging, and sales of original film and television content. Its most recently announced project is a Blues Brothers docu-series with Dan Aykroyd and the John Belushi Estate.

About Murmrr

Murmrr is a community-focused New York-based events company. We program world-renowned and emerging artists in various disciplines: music, art, comedy, literature, and film.