Dark Star Pictures
| Company type | Independent film distribution firm |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film distribution |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Michael Repsch |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | North America |
| Products | Independent films, genre films |
| Website | darkstarpictures |
Dark Star Pictures is a U.S.-based independent film distribution firm established in 2017 by producer and film executive Michael Repsch. The company specializes in distributing auteur-driven independent cinema within North America, with a particular emphasis on genre films aimed at millennial viewers.
History
Founded by Michael Repsch, Dark Star Pictures made its debut at the 2017 American Film Market (AFM), focusing on acquiring and distributing independent movies for theatrical, digital, and festival circuits throughout North America. Its inaugural lineup featured titles such as Entanglement, Gutland, All You Can Eat Buddha, and The Queen of Hollywood Blvd, with plans to release these films across festivals, theaters, and digital outlets throughout 2018.
In January 2021, Dark Star collaborated with the horror platform Bloody Disgusting to establish a joint distribution label dedicated to genre cinema. This partnership introduced a virtual film festival highlighting horror films including Koko-Di Koko-Da, PVT Chat, and Jumbo. The label's first theatrical release was the horror-thriller HoneyDrew.
Dark Star received recognition in 2022 by being included in GLAAD’s Studio Responsibility Index (SRI), noted for its acquisition and distribution of LGBTQ-inclusive projects such as the GLAAD Media Award-nominated Tu Me Manques.
In 2023, the company joined forces with Mantícora Distribution (Mexico) and La Dalia Films (Spain) to create Antídoto Horror Factory, a genre-focused label dedicated to independent horror films across North America, Latin America, and Spain. This initiative aims to produce a minimum of four films over a four-year period.