Lionsgate has obtained the distribution rights to Kevin Smith’s upcoming thriller ‘Red State,’ ComingSoon is reporting. The entertainment company will distribute the controversial movie through Video-On-Demand (VOD), Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD), Electronic Sell-Through (EST) and television in the United States.

Lionsgate’s marketing and distribution exectutive David Dinerstein will oversee the theatrical release of ‘Red State’ through Smith’s self-distribution label SModcast Pictures. The movie, which tells the story of a group of teens who receive an online ivitation for sex, but encounter fundamentalists with a more sinister agenda, is scheduled to be released in September 2011.

‘Red State,’ which was written and directed by Smith and produced by Jonathan Gordon, stars Academy Award winner Melissa Leo and John Goodman. The film debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival to acclaim. After studio bidding, Smith bought the film for $20 and decided to self-distribute it through SModcast Pictures.

Smith has toured the U.S. with ‘Red State,’ showing it at 15 single show engagements. It has grossed almost $1 million from these showings, despite SModcast Pictures only spending $500 in advertising. It has since achieved the 10th best per screen average of all time.

The director has said that before SModcast Pictures decided to release ‘Red State,’ “Lionsgate was the distributor we hoped would buy the flick at Sundance.” He added that he was happy with the way the studio distributed his film ‘Dogma’ in 1999, “and ever since, they’ve been able to punch through always-crowed cineplexes with the most responsible marketing budgets in the industry.”

Written by: Karen Benardello