The Exchange has acquired international rights to the Sundance entry and begins sales in Toronto.

Justin Simien’s feature directorial debut stars Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Dennis Haysbert and Kyle Gallner and won the US Dramatic special jury award for breakthrough talent.

Dear White People explores racial tensions at an Ivy League university in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. Roadside Attractions will distribute in the US on October 17.

Effie T Brown, Ann Le, Julia Lebedev, Angel Lopez and Lena Waithe produced and executive producers are Stephanie Allain and Leonid Lebedev.

Dear White People was loved in Sundance and is now creating great buzz in the US,” said The Exchange CEO Brian O’Shea. “We feel that this provocative high quality film can resonate with international filmgoers and should not be missed.”

The company handled sales on The Last Five Years, which gets its world premiere in Toronto on Sunday (September 7).