Vue Lumière has picked up The Thing with Feathers starring Benedict Cumberbatch for the UK and Ireland.

Vue Lumière, the distribution arm of exhibition company Vue, acquired the film from mk2. The company has said it plans to release the film in cinemas across the UK and Ireland later this year.

The Thing with Feathers had its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year, then went on to play as a Special Gala at the 75th Berlinale. It is based on the bestselling book by Max Porter, published by Faber, and stars Cumberbatch as a grieving father of two young boys who loses his wife very suddenly.

Written and directed by Dylan Southern, best known for his music documentaries Meet Me in the Bathroom, Shut Up and Play the Hits and the upcoming untitled Oasis project, it is produced by Adam Ackland and Leah Clarke for SunnyMarch and Andrea Cornwell’s Lobo Films.

The film was developed with Film4, who co-financed alongside the BFI and Align, in association with Uncommon Creative Studio, mk2 Films, and Rank and File, in co-production with Film i Väst and Filmgate Film. mk2 Films is handling international sales.

“We feel that The Thing with Feathers fully embodies what we are doing with Vue Lumière and what we want to say to audiences around cinema, storytelling, performance, creativity, and impact,” Eve Gabereau, Director of Distribution at Vue Lumière, said in a statement.

“Also, we are committed to and energised by working with the filmmaking teams and UK partners Film4 and BFI in a joined-up way for the widest possible release.”

Fionnuala Jamison, Managing Director of mk2 Films, added: “We’re very pleased to be partnering with Vue Lumière on their first major dramatic feature. It’s a moving and distinctive film that we’re proud to see embraced by such an ambitious new player in the UK market.”...