Samuel Goldwyn Films has picked up US rights to Cold Souls, Sophie Barthes feature debut which recently played in US dramatic competition at Sundance. The film stars Paul Giamatti alongside David Strathairn, Emily Watson and Lauren Ambrose.

Goldwyn is planning a late summer release for the comedy in which Giamatti plays an actor called Paul Giamatti who decides to put his soul in storage courtesy of an experimental company run by Strathairn's character. Although temporarily relieved of the anxiety caused by his own soul, he soon longs for it back only to find that it has been stolen and is being peddled on the black market of soul trading.

Barthes, a French woman who lives in New York City, wrote and directed the short film Happiness which screened at Sundance 2007.

Cold Souls was produced by Dan Carey and Elizabeth Giamatti of Touchy Feely Films alongside Paul Mezey and Jeremy Kipp Walker of Journeyman Pictures.

Peter Goldwyn, vice president of acquisitions negotiated the deal with Sarah Lash of Cinetic Media on behalf of the producers. Charlotte Mickie from E1 Films International is handling foreign sales.