Soda Pictures has taken UK and Ireland rights to Josh Appignanesi'sdebut feature Song of Songs.

Natalie Press, who previously starred in My Summer of Love, stars alongsidenewcomer Joel Chalfen in the story of a brother andsister in London's Orthodox Jewish community.

Song of Songs premiered in August at the 2005Edinburgh International Film Festival, where it received a special commendationfrom the Michael Powell Award jury. It has also been selected for the 2006International Film Festival Rotterdam. Songof Songs producer Gayle Griffiths won the Alfred Dunhill UK Film TalentAward at this year's London Film Festival.

Edward Fletcher, managing director of Soda, said that thedistributor decided to acquire Song ofSongs partly because its "recognition of our part in the Britishindependent cinema industry where a number of producers are taking considerablerisks. It is important that distributors take risks alongside producers tofoster the growth of an alternative British cinema. With a singularly cinematicdirection from Josh Appignanesi and another superbperformance form Natalie Press, Song of Songs deserves that risk."

Soda plans to open Song of Songs at the ICA on February 10.