Canadian distributor E1 Films has acquired writer-director Sophie Barthes' Sundance US dramatic competitor Cold Souls. Although the film is represented at Sundance by E1's head of international sales Charlotte Mickie, the Canadian rights were acquired from Cinetic Media. John Hamilton and Richard Rapkowski negotiated on behalf of E1.

The film stars Paul Giamatti as a version himself, playing an intense US film actor on the verge of an emotional collapse. He discovers an underground market in cryogenic soul freezing and ends up on the losing side of a scam. Emily Watson and David Strathairn co-star. Shot in the US and Russia, the film, said Mickie, is 'resonating' with international buyers.

In a statement, E1 Films co-president Bryan Gliserman said, 'The filmmakers have crafted a fiercely original work that will resonate with critics and audiences alike. E1 is extremely proud to be associated with Cold Souls.'
Producer Paul Mezey returned the favour, saying 'E1 Films is the perfect home for Cold Souls in Canada. Their overwhelming enthusiasm for the film and unequivocal commitment to bring it to a wide audience leaves no doubt this is the right fit.'

Mezey's fellow producers are Dan Carey, Elizabeth Giamatti, Andrij Parekh and Jeremy Kipp Walker.

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