EKKL Entertainment, a freshly launched distribution outfit focused on stories that lean into identity, belief, and belonging, has officially opened its doors – and it’s kicking things off with the acquisition of She Dances, the feature directorial debut of Rick Gomez. Co-written by Gomez and Steve Zahn, the film brings together Steve Zahn (“The White Lotus”), Audrey Zahn (Wildcat), and Mackenzie Ziegler (Shakey Grounds, Let Us In), with supporting turns from Rosemarie DeWitt (La La Land), Sonequa Martin-Green (“The Walking Dead”), and Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon, Training Day).
After a warmly received premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, She Dances has been steadily making its way through the festival circuit. The film’s momentum continues with today’s announcement that it has secured a slot as an Official Selection of the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival. EKKL has secured all North American rights and is planning a theatrical rollout for March 2026.
EKKL’s launch is spearheaded by producer Michael Scott, a long-standing figure in faith-forward filmmaking whose projects have earned more than $200M cumulatively. His breakout hit God’s Not Dead pulled in $60M alone. With this new banner, Scott aims to release around eight theatrical titles a year, positioning EKKL as a home for accessible, uplifting stories designed for the communal experience of the big screen.
“At EKKL Entertainment, we are a creator-first studio, and we are eager to collaborate with filmmakers who are telling meaningful, values-driven stories. SHE DANCES is an ideal first acquisition for EKKL because it embodies exactly the kind of emotionally rich, beautifully crafted, character-driven storytelling we champion—grounded in the enduring values that unite families and communities. We’re excited to collaborate with the team behind the film,” said Scott.
She Dances aligns closely with that mission, centring on a father and daughter attempting to rebuild their relationship while confronting a shared loss, all set against the Young Miss Southeast Regional Dance Finals. The story leans into themes of finding your footing after tragedy – recognising what endures, what shapes you, and how family ties can be rediscovered in the process.
Writer-director Rick Gomez and co-writer/star Steve Zahn added, “We are thrilled for SHE DANCES to have a theatrical release. We believe the power of the film lies in its shared experience.”
The film is produced by Rick Gomez, Steve Zahn, Jenny Gomez (The Week), Mandi Reno (On Swift Horses), and Coby Toland (An Uncandid Portrait) for Macaroni Art Productions, with Jenifer Westphal (Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) for Wavelength and Jason Reed (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes). Executive producers include Jenifer Westphal, Joe Plummer (32 Sounds), and Brevity Films’ Roland Kassis (In the Shadow of Beirut) and Alyssa Schroeter (The Rose: Come Back to Me).
