IFC Films announced today that it is acquiring North American rights to Sundance award-winning director Chad Hartigan’s LITTLE FISH, with a screenplay by Mattson Tomlin based on a short story by Aja Gabel.

The film stars Olivia Cooke (READY PLAYER ONE, THE SOUND OF METAL), Jack O’Connell (UNBROKEN, SEBERG) Raúl Castillo (WE THE ANIMALS), and Soko. Producing is Tim Headington and Lia Buman of Tango Entertainment, Rian Cahill and Brian Kavanaugh-Jones of Automatik, Chris Ferguson of Oddfellows Entertainment and Mattson Tomlin, with executive producers Teddy Schwarzman, Ben Stillman and Michael Heimler of Black Bear Pictures along with Fred Berger of Automatik and Tango’s Max Silva. Cooke is also executive producing.

Chad Hartigan previously directed THIS IS MARTIN BONNER premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 where it won Best of NEXT Audience Award as well as the John Cassavetes Award at the Film independent Spirit Awards. He then returned to Sundance in 2016 with MORRIS FROM AMERICA where he was awarded the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. LITTLE FISH was an official selection at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival in the US Narrative Competition, and IFC Films plans to release the film on February 5th, 2021.

Imagine waking up in a world where a pandemic has broken out, which strikes with no rhyme or reason, and causes its victims to lose their memories. Imagine waking up and not remembering the person you love. This is the world that newlyweds Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Jude (Jack O’Connell) find themselves in, not long after meeting and falling in love. When Jude contracts the disease, the young couple will do anything to hold onto the memory of their love.

Arianna Bocco EVP of Acquisitions and Productions of IFC Films said, “Chad Hartigan’s prescient and deeply felt love story blew us away on every level. The stellar performances and gorgeous cinematography complement Chad’s unique and beautiful vision. This is the love story for this moment – bring tissues.”

Director Chad Hartigan added, “From ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW to HUNGER, IFC has released countless films that have inspired and shaped me over the years and as the challenges of 2020 have proven again, they remain one of the most adept and adaptable distribution companies in the business. I can think of no better partner to bring this pandemic love story to audiences.”

The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films’ EVP of Acquisitions and Productions Arianna Bocco with CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers. Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films has rights to the film outside of the U.S.