MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Classics has bought the all-US rights of the Dutch film, Winter In Wartime, from High Point Films.

High Point Films is the theatrical division of Carey Fitzgerald‘s London-based High Point Media Group.

The deal was negotiated by Dylan Leiner, currently EVP acquisitions and production at Sony Pictures Classics, along with High Point director theatrical sales and marketing Elisar Cabrera.

Directed by Martin Koolhoven, Winter In Wartime revolves around the story of a 13-year-old boy who get involved in the resistance after he helps a wounded British soldier during World War II.

The screenplay has been written by Mieke de Jong, Paul Jan Nelissen and Martin Koolhoven and was based on the novel of the same name by Jan Terlouw.

The film was hugely successful in the Netherlands, out-grossing competing films like Twilight and The Dark Knight. It was the highest grossing film in The Netherlands during Christmas 2008 and the first weeks of 2009.

It was also chosen by the Dutch Critics as the best Dutch film of 2008, it won the PZC Audience Award (best movie based on a novel), three Rembrandt Awards and three Golden Calf awards. It is the Dutch entry (Best Foreign Language Film) for the Academy Awards of 2010.