EXCLUSIVE: Alan Gilsenan directed the adaptation of Carol Shields’ Pulitzer Prize-wining novel.

Unless

LA-based International Film Trust (IFT) has picked up international sales rights to Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 8-18) selection Unless as the Special Presentations entry receives its world premiere tonight (Sept 11).

Catherine Keener plays an author and mother of three who finds out her daughter has dropped out of college and is begging on the street.

Newcomer Hannah Gross also stars alongside Brendan Coyle, Matt Craven, Chloe Rose, Abigail Winter, Martha Henry, Brendan Coyle, Linda Kash, Benjamin Ayres and Hanna Schygulla.

Alan Gilsenan directed from his adapted screenplay based on Carol Shields’ semi-autobiographical novel.

Gersh handles US rights to Unless and IFT’s Todd Olsson has been touting the drama to buyers here.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this important film to the marketplace,” said Olsson. “It couldn’t be more timely as our world continues to suffer injustices that impact our lives and personal relationships. Alan has done a remarkable job of translating this novel to the screen, and Keener is at her all-time best.”

IFT’s Toronto sales roster features Isabelle Coixet’s Light On Broken Glass starring Patricia Clarkson, Elizabeth Olsen and Chris Cooper, and Werner Herzog’s Salt And Fire which recently sold to XLrator Media for the US and gets its North American premiere here on September 15.