CANNES, France - Angelina Jolie's directorial debut has picked up a U.S. distributor.

Her Bosnian War film "In the Land of Blood and Honey" will be released Dec. 23 by FilmDistrict, a subsidiary of GK Films. Announcing the acquisition Sunday at the Cannes Film Festival, GK Films founder Graham King said Jolie's debut "signals the arrival of a visceral and compelling storyteller."

The film features a completely local Bosnian cast, most of whom were children during the 1990s war.

Jolie came to the Cannes festival this year to promote "Kung Fu Panda 2" and for romantic partner Brad Pitt's drama "The Tree of Life," which premieres Monday.