Roadside Attractions has made a preemptive buy for US theatrical rights to the Sundance opening night gala film The Music Never Stopped.

Essential Entertainment principal Jim Kohlberg directed the film, which stars J K Simmons and Lou Taylor Pucci in the story of a man who learns to connect with his son, who suffers from cerebral trauma, through music.

Cara Seymour and Julia Ormond also star. Gwyn Lurie and Gary Marks adapted the screenplay based on the case-study essay The Last Hippie by Dr Oliver Sacks. Kohlberg produced with Julie W Noll, Peter Newman and Greg Johnson.

Roadside Attractions co-presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff plan a March release.

Peter Newman, Greg Johnson and attorney Jonathan Gray brokered the deal with Cohen and attorney Greg Bernstein for Roadside. US DVD and TV rights remain in play.