Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has acquired North American VOD rights to the roller derby documentary MINNESOTA MEAN, which will be available to rent/own on all North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, starting on July 2, 2024, through Freestyle Digital Media.

The documentary Minnesota Mean takes viewers into the thrilling world of roller derby, following the lives of six badass women as they chase after the ultimate prize, the Hydra. When the team’s top player gets sidelined with an injury, the question looms large: can they still clinch the victory? This isn’t a typical sports tale—it’s a raw and real look at the tough, independent women at the core of roller derby. A triumphant tale of grit and determination that shows how fierce women navigate a sport that demands teamwork as they juggle the demands of roller derby without giving up on their personal dreams.

Produced and directed by Dawn Mikkelson, Minnesota Mean features roller derby athletes Brickyard, Hurtrude Stein, Smoka Hontas, Shiver Me Kimbers, Diamond Rough, and Switch Please. “Minnesota Mean” also features a soundtrack is 90% by music of indie hip-hop artist Dessa, who has an extraordinarily strong following in the United States and the UK, with an aggressive but thoughtful style of hip hop. She’s also host of the BBC podcast Deeply Human. 

“Being embedded with the Minnesota Roller Derby made for one of the most exciting years of my life. The strength and vulnerability the team shared with our cameras is a testament to the spirit of roller derby,” said Director Dawn Mikkelson. “These athletes are powerful, playful, and brutally honest, with a fierce commitment to one another. The film is full of the unexpected and intimate portrayals of these athletes’ lives, offering an inside look at their journeys both on and off the track. I hope MINNESOTA MEAN inspires more women and gender-expansive folks to join their local roller derby team and reimagine what power and community look like.”

Freestyle Digital Media negotiated the deal to acquire MINNESOTA MEAN directly with filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson and her production company Emergence Pictures.