First Independent Gets "Holy"

A scene from Kevin Asch's "Holy Rollers." Image courtesy of the Sundance Film Festival.

First Independent Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to Sundance's 2010 Dramatic Competition entry "Holy Rollers,' it was announced today. Starring Jesse Eisenberg ("Zombieland," "The Squid and the Whale") as a devoted yet wayward Hasidic Jew in late 1990's New York City who somehow becomes involved in an international ecstasy ring. First Independent said they are planning to release the film in early to mid summer.

"We believe in this film," First Independent Pictures President Gary Rubin said in a statement. "It's that simple."

"Rollers" was directed by first time filmmaker Kevin Asch (who indieWIRE interviewed Asch at the Sundance Film Festival), and written by Antonio Macia. In addition to Eisenberg, "Rollers" also stars Justin Bartha, Q-Tip and Ari Graynor.

"As a filmmaker, you hope to work with a distributor that is as passionate about the movie as you are, and we found that in Gary Rubin and First Independent Pictures," Asch said in a statement.

The deal was negotiated on the producer's behalf by Victoria Cook of Cinetic Media, with Rubin and attorney Shelley Surpin handling negotiations for First Independent.