Elijah Bynum’s violent bodybuilding drama “Magazine Dreams,” which received critical acclaim at Sundance in 2023, will be released in UK cinemas after being embroiled in assault allegations against star Jonathan Majors.
The release was made through a unique distribution partnership between BUFF Studios, the distribution arm of the British Urban Film Festival, and Celsius Entertainment and Aryan K. Trivedi. Celsius continues to sell the film on the American Film Market.
The deal marks BUFF Studios’ continued distribution expansion following the releases of “No Shade” and “Ireke: Rise of the Maroons.” UK release is scheduled for December 5, 2025, with Vue Cinemas confirmed to release the film across multiple sites in London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham.
“For a film festival like BUFF to step up to distribute films of this quality represents an important innovation for the market,” said Trivedi, who released Magazine Dreams (Kneecap, Mapantsula) in Africa through his company WTHW Films. “We are thrilled to have entered into this agreement and look forward to seeing how collaborations like this can evolve the international distribution landscape.”
Emmanuel Anyam Osigwe, head of global theatrical distribution at BUFF Studios, described the film as a “statement release” for the company.
“This partnership with Celsius Entertainment and Aryan K. Trivedi reflects BUFF’s commitment to bringing bold and artistically fearless stories to UK audiences,” he said. “Our slate represents the next chapter in BUFF’s evolution from a festival platform to a full-service distribution brand.”
Produced by Los Angeles Media Fund and distributed in the U.S. by Briarcliff Entertainment earlier this year, “Magazine Dreams” follows Cillian Maddox, an aspiring but troubled bodybuilder who struggles with identity, fame and obsession. The film garnered a lot of buzz after it premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, sparking a bidding war that Searchlight Pictures reportedly won for a mid-seven-figure sum. However, the distributor halted the film’s release in January 2024 after Majors was accused of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend.
The UK deal for Magazine Dreams was brokered between Trivedi, Anyam Osigwe of BUFF Studios and Celsius Entertainment.
