FREESTYLE DIGITAL MEDIA ACQUIRES MUSIC DOCUMENTARY “JEWEL’S CATCH ONE” FOR JUNE RELEASE
Music Documentary Feature Sets Digital Debut
on North American VOD Platforms on June 16, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA – Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, proudly announces the acquisition of VOD rights to the music documentary feature JEWEL’S CATCH ONE, Directed by C. Fitz, which will be available on North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms on June 16th, 2026.
The film’s return is both timely and resonant. Its release during Pride Month, just days before Juneteenth, underscores the enduring relevance of its story, one rooted in visibility, resilience, and community at a time when such spaces were not just celebratory, but essential.
Spanning four decades of rhythm and resistance, JEWEL’S CATCH ONE tells the essential true story of America’s oldest Black-owned disco. Renowned as the Studio 54 of the West Coast, Catch One was more than a nightclub. It was a groundbreaking institution that shattered racial and social barriers under the fearless leadership of Black, LGBTQ+ trailblazer Jewel Thais-Williams. Filmmaker C. Fitz constructs a vivid cinematic journey through rare archival footage, dynamic storytelling, and a soundtrack that pulses across generations. The film illuminates how Jewel transformed her dance floor into a sanctuary of activism by creating a vital safe space, especially during the AIDS crisis, when the club became a source of support, fundraising, and visibility. JEWEL’S CATCH ONE honors forty years of cultural history through a vibrant lens of music, fashion, and the unwavering resilience that helped shape a nation.
With a cinematic visual style and a storytelling sensibility rooted in journalism, C. Fitz brings a deeply human, emotionally driven perspective to this material, transforming documentation into immersion. Directed by C. Fitz and written by Fitz and Pat Branch, JEWEL’S CATCH ONE was produced by Fitz, Branch, Carmen Quiros, and Tim Vermeulen, and features an array of legendary voices including Thelma Houston, Sharon Stone, Madonna, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Thea Austin, Sandra Bernhard, Jenifer Lewis, Representative Maxine Waters, Bonnie Pointer, Jennifer Holliday, Janice Robinson, Al Von, Rue Thais-Williams, and, of course, Jewel Thais-Williams, narrated by CCH Pounder.
The film enjoyed an acclaimed international festival run, earning official selections at the BFI London Film Festival, Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, and Palm Springs International Film Festival. JEWEL’S CATCH ONE has won four “Best Documentary” awards, a Jury Award, and was named to Palm Springs’ “Best of Fest” list, with screenings at more than 70 festivals worldwide.
"I wanted to create an invitation to witness change through the film's portal into history,” said filmmaker C. Fitz. “Through Jewel's life, this film teaches lessons against the backdrop of survival, love, and courage. In times like these, it's critical to remember the resilience of those who stood against hate. I can't wait for more people to experience it."
Freestyle Digital Media negotiated a deal to acquire JEWEL’S CATCH ONE directly with the filmmakers, Dancing Pictures, and Tiffany Boyle of Ramo Law.
JEWEL’S CATCH ONE website: https://www.jewelscatchonedocumentary.com
