Virgil Films and Entertainment and National Geographic Entertainment are partnering on the DVD release of Cherien Dabis’ festival favourite and Indie Spirit nominee Amreeka.

Virgil Films recently acquired exclusive North America DVD rights to the story of a single mother and her teenage son who leave the West Bank for the promised land of smalltown Illinois.

National Geographic acquired US rights last spring. Amreeka premiered at Sundance and won the FIPRESCI Award at Cannes. The DVD release is set for January 12, 2010.

“It is an honour to acquire this incredible title and make it available to our customers,” Virgil Films & Entertainment president Joe Amodei said.

“High-calibre films such as Amreeka help solidify our ongoing efforts to provide quality entertainment to film fans across the nation. Cherien Dabis is a director with a very long career ahead of her.”

Amodei founded Virgil Films & Entertainment, formerly Arts Alliance America, in 2003 as Hart Sharp Video. The company has partnerships with National Geographic Cinema Ventures, Sundance Channel Home Entertainment, ESPN, TV Guide, and others.