Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has picked up UK rights to Stuart Hazeldine’s directorial debut, the UK thriller Exam, and is collaborating with the producers on a theatrical release for the film in January.

The deal was closed here by SPHE’s Head of Acquisitions for Northern Europe Dave Bishop and Independent Film Sales’ Head of Sales Abigail Walsh.

Exam is directed, written and produced by Hazeldine. The film stars Jimi Mistry, Colin Salmon, Luke Mably and Nathalie Cox and follows eight talented candidates as they attempt to join the ranks of a mysterious and powerful corporation.

The film is produced by Hazeldine and Gareth Unwin and is nominated for the Raindance Award at this year’s British Independent Film Awards.It received its World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Independent is currently selling a number of titles at AFM including recently announced Tracker, starring Ray  Winstone and Temuera Morrison, Bernard Rose’s Mr Nice starring Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis and Chloë Sevigny, Abel Ferrera’s Jekyll and Hyde starring Forest Whitaker and Curtis Jackson, and Lynne Ramsay’s We Need to Talk About Kevin starring Tilda Swinton.