Fledgling LA-based distributor Aspiration Media has made its first buy, taking UR rights from Continental Media to Noble. In a separate development, Image has acquired US rights to fantasy AFM title Digging Up The Marrow.

Stephen Bradley’s drama stars Deirdre O’Kane as Christina Noble, the Irishwoman who overcame a harsh childhood to start a charity in aid of street children in Vietnam and Mongolia.

Sarah Greene, Brendan Coyle and Liam Cunningham also star in the UK-Ireland film produced by Bradley and Melanie Gore-Grimes. Michael J Hunt served as executive producer through his company Ansty Productions.

Aspiration Media plans a spring 2015 release.

Noble won The Panavision Spirit Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, audience awards at San Diego Film Festival, Dallas International Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival and Newport Beach Film Festival and the best feature and special jury prize at the Boston Irish Film Festival.

“The aspirational audience is growing more significant in size and influence every year,” said Aspiration Media co-president Erik Lokkesmoe.

“Globally-minded and socially savvy, these consumers want stories that are smart and soulful, with films that show the world as it is and as it could be.”

Managing partner of Continental Media James Felts added, “Aspiration is looking to put audiences in front of content, not content in front of audiences. We are thrilled to be in business with this forward-minded distributor and look forward to helping them manage the release.”

Aspiration Media invested P&A funds into the human interest dance documentary BBoy For Life and is an executive producer on the Rodrigo Garcia feature Last Days In The Desert starring Ewan McGregor.

Continental has also licensed rights on Noble to Avalon Distribution for Spain, L’Atelier d’Images for France, Shoval Film for Israel and Able Entertainment for South Korea. 

  • Image Entertainment has acquired all US rights to the fantasy film Digging Up The Marrow starring, written and directed by Adam Green and inspired by the artwork of Alex Pardee. Ray Wise also stars in the story. Kaleidoscope Film Distribution will introduce to international buyers at AFM.