US rights snapped up to Kristen Wiig drama, which debuted at Toronto.

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IFC Films has acquired US rights to Liza Johnson’s Hateship Loveship.

The film, based on a short story by Alice Munro with a screenplay by Mark Poirier, stars Kristen Wiig, Guy Pearce, Hailee Steinfeld, Nick Nolte, Christine Lahti, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Sami Gayle.

Wiig stars as Johanna Parry, a profoundly shy woman who is hired by Mr. McCauley (Nolte) as a housekeeper and a primary caregiver to his granddaughter Sabitha (Steinfeld). When Sabitha uses technology to foster a pseudo-relationship between her widowed father and new caretaker, Johanna is finally able to indulge in the dream of a future and a home of her own.

Producers are Robert Ogden Barnum, Michael Benaroya, Jamin O’Brien, Dylan Sellers and Cassian Elwes. Executive producers are Jacob Pechenik, Michael Raimondi and Abigail Disney.

The film made its world premiere earlier this month as a special presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, svp of acquisitions and productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with UTA Independent Film Group and Cassian Elwes on behalf of the filmmakers.

IFC Films is a sister division to IFC Midnight and Sundance Selects, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks.