The latest independent release from Byron Allen’s distribution arm arrives just in time for fall, offering a timely exploration of family fractures and community resilience in a small town.
“500 FIREFLIES dwells in place with curiosity and affection, letting characters talk and argue amongst themselves, grappling with the deep personal rifts that political disagreement can cause.”— Filmmaker Lysandra Petersson
Freestyle Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, has made the dramedy 500 FIREFLIES available across North American digital HD internet, DVD, cable, and satellite platforms as of November 3, 2026.
Set in 1995, the story follows single father Daniel, who relocates with his daughter June to his rural hometown for the summer. There, he discovers a community battered by economic hardship and a steady outflow of young people. The plot thickens when his estranged father, Oscar, offers a vital loan—but only if Daniel agrees to catch five hundred fireflies. This odd condition forces Daniel to set aside his pride and undertake a seemingly absurd mission that draws him closer to neighbor Miriam, even as it creates friction with June. As Daniel attempts to rebuild his life, the possibility of revitalizing the town hangs in the balance. At its heart, 500 FIREFLIES is a narrative about second chances, weaving together themes of family, community, and the power of forgiveness.
Also worth a look: Follow Your Heart festival crowns winners in New York with 2,988 submissions and Jasmine K. Hathaway’s new Tiffanie story turns a wedding into a run-in with the law.
Lysandra Petersson directed the film and co-wrote the script with Zan Gillies, who also served as a producer alongside Zach Laliberte. The cast features Brian Villalobos as Daniel, Brett Cooper as June, and Richard Riehle as Oscar.
Petersson shared her personal connection to the project: “I wrote 500 FIREFLIES both as a rumination on my upbringing in the rural South in the mid-1990s, and as a coming-home piece in mid-life, as I prepared to move back to Virginia after ten years in L.A. 500 FIREFLIES is a movie that dwells in place with curiosity and affection, letting characters talk and argue amongst themselves, grappling with those big questions: What do we do about the deep personal rifts that political disagreement can cause? How do we build a good society? How do we continue to consider each other human amid extreme division? We think it’s not only possible, but essential, that we maintain relationships despite even the profoundest disagreements. In Mt Belle anyway, it’s possible.”
The acquisition of 500 FIREFLIES was negotiated directly between Freestyle Digital Media and the filmmakers, with Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films facilitating the deal.
For more details, visit the official film page: https://www.freestyledigitalmedia.tv/film/500-fireflies/
ABOUT FREESTYLE DIGITAL MEDIA
As the digital distribution arm of Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group, Freestyle Digital Media ranks among the world’s largest all-rights independent film distributors. The company focuses on VOD and streaming distribution, film acquisition, and direct partnerships spanning all major cable, satellite, digital, and streaming platforms. With an experienced sales team and extensive infrastructure, Freestyle Digital Media serves as a leading outlet for independent filmmakers seeking multiplatform theatrical, VOD, and streaming reach. Recent titles include UP THE CATALOGUE featuring Jonathan Bailey, ALLSWELL IN NEW YORK starring Emmy Award-winning Liza Colón-Zayas of FX’s THE BEAR, DIARIO, MUJER & CAFÉ starring Roselyn Sánchez in her directorial debut, and CHARLIEBIRD, which won the Founders Award at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. Additional library highlights include SURVIVE starring Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins, DEAR ZOE featuring Sadie Sink of STRANGER THINGS, and BEST SUMMER EVER, produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Steenburgen, and Ted Danson. Visit freestyledigitalmedia.tv for more information.
Contact: Eric Peterkofsky / Sarah Madden
Allen Media Group/Freestyle Digital Media
Eric@es.tv / Sarah.Madden@es.tv
Official FDM Trailer – 500 FIREFLIES (2026)
Why it matters: In an era of heightened political polarization, 500 FIREFLIES arrives as a cinematic meditation on whether personal bonds can survive ideological divides—a question that resonates far beyond the fictional town of Mt Belle. The film’s wide digital release makes this intimate, character-driven story accessible to audiences seeking narratives about reconciliation and community rebuilding.
