Coming out of The Toronto International Film Festival, A24 has acquired the U.S. rights to distribute John Cameron Mitchell’s (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) How to Talk to Girls at Parties. The film is an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s short story of the same name starring Elle Fanning (About Ray), Nicole Kidman (Secret in their Eyes) and newcomer Alex Sharp (recent Tony-winner for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time). The story follows Enn (Sharp), a shy teenager and punk rocker who sneaks out one night to a party where he meets and falls in love with Zan (Fanning). As Enn gets to know Zan, he discovers that she’s actually part of an alien colony with nefarious plans for earth.

A24 continues to be on the rise as a major independent studio, increasing their output every year for the past four years. Notable releases from this year include Ex Machina, Slow West, Amy and The End of the Tour. The distributor has also been a popular home for independent science fiction films including the aforementioned Ex Machina and 2014’s Under the Skin. The studio also recently acquired the distribution rights for the Noah Baumbach (Mistress America) documentary De Palma.

After directing the adaptation of his own musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch and the sex comedy Shortbus, Mitchell has diversified his directorial efforts. He worked with Kidman on the family drama Rabbit Hole – which starred Kidman – and directed episodes of television including Nurse Jackie and Happyish. This is his first time directing a adaptation of someone else’s work and making a science fiction film.

No firm release date has been set for How to Talk to Girls at Parties, though the movie is currently expected to release next year.