Freestyle Releasing will handle the US theatrical release of the Australian hit Bran Nue Dae in September, Omnilab Media managing director Christopher Mapp announced.

Geoffrey Rush stars in the musical romantic comedy based on the Australian stage musical about a young Aboriginal couple. Rachel Perkins directed and Robyn Kershaw and Graeme Isaac served as producers.

“Based on Bran Nue Dae’s strong box-office showing in the Australian marketplace, its uniquely charming subject matter and engaging musical score, we believe that Bran Nue Dae will find an enthusiastic audience in the US marketplace,” Mapp, who served as executive producer alongside Matthew Street and David Whealy, said.

“Working with the experienced Freestyle Releasing team, we are hoping it could, in fact, achieve that rare honour of becoming a small, independent, breakout box-office hit.”

Cinemarket’s Peter D Graves will oversee marketing in conjunction with Steven Raphael’s Required Viewing. Bankside is handling international sales.

“We are delighted to be working with Omnilab and helping to support its ever-growing activities in the film production and P&A financing arena,” Freestyle Releasing co-heads Susan Jackson and Mark Borde said.