On the eve of the Toronto International Film Festival, Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions have scored a coup, picking up U.S. theatrical rights to the fest's closing night film AMAZING GRACE, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The indie companies made the joint distribution deal for Michael Apted's historical slave trade drama just days before last week's announcement of its acceptance at Toronto. The film still is being completed and will make its world premiere at the fest.

AMAZING GRACE stars Ioan Gruffudd as William Wilberforce, who led the British Empire to end slavery at the turn of the 19th century with the help of slave trader-turned-abolitionist Rev. John Newton (Albert Finney) and his wife (Romola Garai). It will be released Feb. 23, the 200th anniversary of the British Parliament's vote to abolish the slave trade.