Apparition and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG) have taken domestic rights to Sundance premiere Welcome To The Rileys starring Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo.

The distributors did the seven-figure deal with UTA Independent Group and plan to release later this year.

Gandolfini plays a grieving father who strikes up a cathartic friendship with a teenage prostitute while attending a conference in New Orleans.

Jake Scott directed the Scott Free and Argonaut Productions enterprise. Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Michael Costigan and Scott Bloom produced.

Apparition will handle the theatrical release and SPWAG will take charge of ancillary per their arrangement.

“When we screened the film at Sundance, we were really impressed with the incredible performances and the strong direction under Jake Scott,” SPWAG’s vice-president of acquisitions and productions Scott Shooman said.

“Director Jake Scott has assembled a top cast in this riveting drama that showcases outstanding performances,” Apparition CEO Bob Berne said. “We are especially excited to continue our association with Kristen Stewart, who stars in our upcoming release The Runaways and who, in Welcome To The Rileys, demonstrates her tremendous range and acting ability. She is truly one to watch.”

Shooman and SPWAG’s senior vice-president of business affairs Michael Helfand negotiated the deal with Rena Ronson and David Flynn of UTA’s Independent Film Group on behalf of the producers.

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