Drafthouse Films, the film distribution arm of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, has acquired U.S. rights to Jason Lapeyre and Robert Wilson’s I Declare War.

Drafthouse is planning a VOD and theatrical campaign for the second half of 2013.

“Not since Stand By Me have we experienced such a poignant and sincere film about kids for adults. Armed with an arsenal  of extremely talented child actors and combining shades of Full Metal Jacket and Lord Of The Flies, Jason and Rob have created a one-of-a-kind action film that we couldn’t be more excited to handle in the U.S.,” said Drafthouse founder and CEO Tim League in a statement.

I Declare War, which had its world premiere at TIFF, focuses on a group of young boys whose after school game of capture-the-flag turns into a serious, boundary-pushing battle.

The film won top honours at Action Fest last April, when it screened as a work-in-progress. And following TIFF, it won the Audience Award at Austin genre fest Fantastic Fest.

“Drafthouse Films is our ideal partner for I Declare War in the U.S. From Fantastic Fest on, they have been a huge supporter. Drafthouse are the most progressive of U.S.-based distributors and we know that they will deliver the widest and best audience for the film,” said Wilson in his own statement.

Lapeyre wrote the script for I Declare War, which is produced by Webb, Wilson and Patrick Cameron of Samaritan Entertainment.

The U.S. rights deal was negotiated by Drafthouse COO James Emanuel Shapiro for Drafthouse, and Andrew Herwitz of Film Sales for the film’s producers.

Moviehouse Entertainment handles international sales for I Declare War.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is based in Austin, Texas and has 10 theatres in its indie chain.