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Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s Oscilloscope Pictures and the newly formed MSNBC Films have acquired “Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father." Pic is MSNBC Films' first acquisition.

Docu focuses on the murder of helmer Kurt Kuenne’s oldest friend and the ensuing legal and emotional travails; pic has been touring the fest circuit and was picked up at Toronto.

“Zachary” will open theatrically on Oct. 31 in Gotham.

MSNBC Films, created in June by NBC News, is a dedicated financing arm for the cable net’s various documentary features -- many of which air on the channel itself -- with an added emphasis on theatrical releases.

MSNBC has been purchasing TV rights to theatrical docus recently, including Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me.” With the new unit funding the creation of original films, however, the newsie will be able to increase its slate of homegrown programming on the air and have a presence in theaters too.