The distribution partners paid $2.5m for US rights to Nicholas Jarecki’s suspenseful drama starring Richard Gere following the world premiere on Saturday.

Lionsgate’s Steve Beeks, Jason Constantine, Eda Kowan, Wendy Jaffe and Ron Schwartz concluded negotiations with WME Global and Linda Lichter in the small hours of Wednesday morning (25). Lisa Wilson’s Parlay Films handles international sales and was expected to close a Canadian deal imminently. WME Global is fielding heavy interest on Sundance entries V/H/S and Filly Brown and deals are understood to be in the offing.

Roadside and Lionsgate are expected to release Arbitrage in autumn and are considering an awards campaign for Gere, who has won plaudits for his performance as a New York fund manager scrambling to save his personal and professional lives.

The story takes place in the shadow of the financial crisis and brings to mind Roadside and Lionsgate’s successful day-and-date theatrical and VoD release of Margin Call, which on Tuesday earned an original screenplay nomination for JC Chandor.

Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling and Nate Parker star. Laura Bickford, Kevin Turen, Justin Nappi and Bob Salerno produced Arbitrage and the executive producers are Brian Young, Mohammed Al Turki, Lisa Wilson, Stanislaw Tyczynski and Ron Curtis.