Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) has acquired US rights from WME Global to Rodrigo Garcia’s drama Mother And Child following its world premiere in Toronto.

The film stars Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Samuel L Jackson, Jimmy Smits and Kerry Washington and tells of three women in Los Angeles whose lives may be more connected than they think. WestEnd Films handles international sales.

Garcia wrote and directed and Lisa Maria Falcone produced through her company Everest Entertainment and Julie Lynn produced via her Mockingbird Pictures set-up.

“We have known Rodrigo Garcia for a long time, first as the cinematographer of Mi Vida Loca in the early ‘90s, then as a writer and director, and have always been impressed with his incredible skill at creating roles for actors, especially for women,” SPC said in a statement.

“With Mother And Child, Rodrigo has managed to define characters which allow for career-best performances for all of the actors he has cast in a film that we feel will connect with people all over the US. We are excited to be working with him, his remarkable cast and his producers Julie Lynn and Lisa Maria Falcone.”

“SPC is one of the great brands in independent film-making,” Garcia added. “It’s so fortunate that we can be part of that family.”

SPC and Lynn previously collaborated on The Jane Austen Book Club. This is Falcone’s first project through New York-based Everest Entertainment, which she founded in 2008 with a commitment to donate a portion of proceeds to philanthropic causes consistent with the themes of its work.

Everest will donate a share of its profits from Mother And Child to charities providing services and support for women and children.