Toronto distributor Photon Films has picked up the Canadian rights to the adventure-comedy film Bookworm, which will open Montreal’s Fantasia Film Festival next month.

The New Zealand feature is directed by Auckland filmmaker Ant Timpson, who co-wrote the script with Toby Harvard. It stars Nell Fisher as a young girl who goes on a treacherous camping trip with her estranged magician father, played by Elijah Wood.

Photon Films will release the film in Canadian theatres later this year. Vertical Entertainment holds the U.S. rights.

Bookworm is produced by New Zealand’s Firefly Films and L.A.-based prodco Nowhere. Producers include Emma Slade, Roxi Bull, Victoria Dabbs, Mette-Marie Kongsved and Laura Tunstall.

The film will make its world premiere as the opening film at the Fantasia Film Festival on July 18. The festival runs until Aug. 4.

“Bookworm is a hilarious, sly and ultimately heartwarming story of a father connecting with the daughter he doesn’t know, and the lengths to which he will go to make up for lost time,” said Photon Films president Mark Slone in a statement.

Image courtesy of Photon Films