Ashim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely is set for release in India through start-up theatrical distributor Easel Films and Eagle Movies in January 2014.

The film will be the first release for Easel, launched by distribution executive Abhishek Gautam and filmmakers Bikramjit Gupta, Atanu Mukherjee and Pooja Gupte. Easel and Eagle are also teaming with distribution veteran Sunny Khanna to release the film.

“We hope to release across 200-300 screens,” said Gautam. “As a team we want to focus on distributing independent cinema in India.” The company will also release Sangee Thongdok’s Crossing Bridges, made in the north-east Indian dialect of Sherdukpen, which premiered at Mumbai Film Festival.

Meanwhile, former IFC Films executive Ryan Werner and distribution agency Required Viewing are working on the US release of Miss Lovely, which is scheduled for March 2014. Cinetic Media’s FilmBuff is handling digital distribution for North America.

Miss Lovely premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard in 2012 and won best film in the India Gold competition at last year’s Mumbai Film Festival. Fortissimo Films sold the film to France’s Ad Vitam in Cannes 2012.