A week ahead of its world premiere at Cannes, Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum” has found a home. Sony Pictures Classics snagged North American and Latin American rights to the drama about a 12-year-old boy (Zain Alrafeea) who sues his parents for bringing him into a world of pain and suffering. According to Variety, Sony plans to release “Capernaum” in December, “qualifying the movie for year-end awards consideration.”

Labaki did three years of research for the project. “I was trying to understand how the system fails these kids. It was important for me to base this on real stories, real events, and real experiences,” she’s said. The Lebanese writer-director was inspired by “many, many, many cases.” She explained, “These kids are facing extreme neglect. I see them all around every day, and everybody just feels completely powerless. And that’s maybe why we turn away. I wanted to be in the head of these kids and understand what happens when you turn away and the kid goes around the corner and disappears from your vision. Who are their parents? What are they thinking?”

“Nadine Labaki is one of the world’s great filmmakers,” Sony Pictures Classics commented. “‘Capernaum’ is an emotionally profound experience about the world we live in and promises to be a triumph in Cannes. Nadine Labaki’s moment as writer-director is here and now.”

Labaki’s previous film, “Where Do We Go Now?”, was also distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. The drama made its world premiere at Cannes in 2011.

“Capernaum” will debut at Cannes May 18. Labaki is one of just three women directors screening films in the main Competition and eligible for the fest’s highest honor, the Palme d’Or.