OzLand

Release

OzLand premiered in Columbus, Mississippi on September 4, 2014, and subsequently screened at the Magnolia Independent Film Festival, Oxford Film Festival, Tupelo Film Festival, and FestivalSouth Film Expo. Its theatrical debut in Hollywood occurred on October 16, 2015, followed by an internet streaming release four days later.

The DVD release came on July 26, 2016, and the film debuted in the United Kingdom on Flix Premiere on October 4, 2016. In 2018, distribution rights reverted to Michael Williams and Shendopen Productions, leading to re-releases on Amazon Prime, Vimeo on Demand, and a limited edition Blu-ray. The film returned to select theaters in June 2025 for its 10th anniversary and the 125th anniversary of Baum's novel, including a screening at the 48th annual Oz-Stravaganza in Chittenango, New York.

Critical reception

Critical response to OzLand was mixed to positive. Reviewers commended the cinematography, music, and direction, while some found fault with the writing. Ryan Jay of Premiere Radio Networks praised the film as brilliant and fulfilling, noting its extraordinary cinematography and blockbuster-level production values.

Jacob Medel of Life in LA described it as rich with detail and powerful character-driven storytelling. Katie Walsh of the Los Angeles Times offered a mixed assessment, lauding the bright cinematography and minimalist guitar score by Keatzi Gunmoney, but criticizing the meandering story and stilted dialogue. Walsh suggested the concept might have worked better as a short film, as the 105-minute runtime lacked sufficient depth and dramatic tension.

Did You Know?

• Michael Williams served as writer, director, producer, cinematographer, and editor.
• The characters Leif and Emri are named after the protagonists of the film.