Shadow Distribution has acquired all North American rights from Memento Films International to Alexsei Fedorchenko’s Silent Souls.

The film is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2011 and is based on the novel The Buntings by Aist Sergeyev about two men who undergo a trip to cremate a woman.

Igor Mishin of April Mig Pictures Film Company in Moscow produced with Mary Nazari of Media Mir Foundation.

Silent Souls is the most profoundly moving, unfathomably beautiful and truly transcendental movie experience I’ve had in this decade,” Shadow president Ken Eisen said. “It’s an honour, a pleasure and a true mission to be able to bring it to North America.” The film premiered in Venice.