Artificial Eye on 'Trishna' privileges

LONDON -- Brit indie distrib Artificial Eye has clicked up U.K. and Irish privileges for Michael Winterbottom's "Trishna." Pic, starring Freida Pinto and Riz Ahmed, is really a contempo re-imagining of Thomas Hardy's "Tess from the D'Ubervilles" occur India, that informs the storyline from the boy of the wealthy property developer who starts a troubled relationship using the daughter of the autorickshaw owner. Acquisition comes in front of the pic's U.K. preem in the London Film Festival in a few days. Deal was discussed by Bankside Films' mind of selling and purchasers Stephen Kelliher and Artificial Eye Boss Louisa Dent. Winterbottom and Melissa Parmenter created the pic, that was funded by Bankside and also the now shuttered U.K. Film Council along with VTR Media Opportunities, Bob Film Sweden and Film i Huge using the support from the Swedish Film Institute. Pic preemed in the Toronto Film Festival recently. Artificial Eye is planning for a spring release for that pic in Blighty. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com