Fireworks Pictures has acquired US theatrical rights to theromantic comedy Nola,which premiered at the second Tribeca Film Festival this week and will bereleased in theatres in the autumn.

The deal was negotiated by Andrew Herwitz of The FilmSales Company and Bob Aaronson, vice president of acquisitions andco-productions at Fireworks Pictures.

Based on a screenplay by debut writer-director Alan Hruska, Nola stars Emmy Rossum (who appears in ClintEastwood's Cannes competition contender Mystic River) as an aspiring singer-songwriter wholeaves her abusive home in Kansas in search of her real father.

James Badge Dale (The Lord Of The Flies) and Mary McDonnell (Dances WithWolves) also star.

"Fireworks is very pleased to be working with Alan Hruska on therelease of his debut feature," said Aaronson. "He's an inspiration. Instead ofresting on his laurels as a high-powered litigator, Alan decided to realize hislifelong ambition as a filmmaker. Nola is an accomplished and entertaining piece of work."

Jill Footlick and Rachel Peters of Archer Entertainment producedthe film.

Fireworksreleases include Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner The Believer and The Man From Elysian Fields. The company will release the romanticcomedy Passionada inthe autumn.