EXCLUSIVE: Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to Blumhouse’s aptly titled swing-dancing documentary Alive and Kicking, with an eye on release this year.

From director Susan Glatzer, Alive and Kicking gives audiences an intimate, inspirational insider’s view of the culture of the current swing dance world, while shedding light on issues facing modern American society. The film features several of the subculture’s luminaries, including dancers Evita Arce, Emelie DecaVita, Rebecka DecaVita, Stephen Sayer, Chandrae Roettig, Frankie Manning, Norma Miller, Dawn Hampton, Dorry Segev, and Sommer Gentry. It premiered to critical and audience acclaim at SXSW in March as part of Blumhouse’s festival slate.

Executive produced by Jason Blum and Robert Rippberger, Alive and Kicking is the latest from Blumhouse, which recently scored an Emmy for The Jinx and produced two of the four Best Documentary Peabody nominees, The Jinx and How to Dance in Ohio. “Susan made an inspiring and entertaining movie that audiences have been embracing since its launch at SXSW,” Blum said about the film. “We are excited to partner with Magnolia to continue sharing it all across the country.”

Prior to becoming a director, Glatzer was a film executive at both major studios and independent film companies, including serving as SVP for the Motion Picture Group at Paramount, and Head of Production and Acquisitions at October. Among the films she was involved with during this period are Traffic, Napoleon Dynamite, Secrets & Lies, Narc, Breaking the Waves, and High Art; overall, she’s worked on projects that have nabbed seven Academy Awards and 19 nominations, as a well as awards at Cannes, Sundance, and Venice. “I am thrilled to be working with Eamonn, Jason and their teams and am excited that more and more people will be able to experience the joys of the swing dance world,” she said about the deal.

“What a fun and amazing debut film from Susan – someone I’ve known and respected for a long time,” said Eamonn Bowles, President of Magnolia Pictures. “We can’t wait for audiences to experience this one for themselves.”

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP Acquisitions Dori Begley and VP Acquisitions John Von Thaden, with Zac Locke, SVP Business and Legal Affairs at Blumhouse Productions. Magnolia’s Head of Worldwide Sales, Christina Rogers, and VP International Sales Scott Veltri, will be representing the film at Cannes for Magnolia International. All international rights are available.