Miramax Films has finalised a deal for US rights on Marleen Gorris' Carolina, which started shooting last week after being postponed from the spring.

The story of a Southern girl trying to make it in Hollywood is the first feature from the alliance between US producer Martin Bregman and UK sales agency IAC Film. Julia Stiles, Shirley Maclaine and Alessandro Nivola star in the film, which previously had Jon Amiel attached as director. The budget is understood to be $15m.

The deal, which was expected, was signed this week on behalf of IAC by chairman Guy Collins and US chief Ann Dubinet. Los Angeles-based president Mark Gill and New York-based senior vice president of acquisitions Andrew Herwitz represented Miramax. Early discussions started out of Miramax's London office under acquisitions head Elizabeth Dreyer.