Lauren Hadaway’s award-winning feature directorial debut has found a home. IFC Films snagged North American rights to the “The Novice,” now slated for release in select theaters, digital platforms, and VOD on December 17. Deadline broke the news.

The drama tells the story of a queer college freshman (Isabelle Fuhrman) “who joins her university’s rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat.”

“When I was thinking about what sort of film could be my first film, I studied a lot of my favorite directors’ careers and followed the age-old advice: write what you know. So, I wrote ‘The Novice,’ inspired by my own years as an obsessive collegiate rower. I essentially compressed four years of my rowing experience and 10 years of coming of age into the script. Writing it turned out to be catharsis for me,” Hadaway shared in an interview with us.

The writer-director described the film as her “existentialist anthem.” She explained, “For the period of time that this movie takes place, rowing becomes Alex’s purpose. It becomes a toxic love affair. I suspect, and hope, that the audience will be left wondering whether it was all worth it.”

Arianna Bocco, President of IFC Films, commented, “We’re thrilled to introduce Lauren Hadaway to U.S. audiences with her stunning and personal debut feature ‘The Novice.’ Isabelle Fuhrman’s knockout performance will speak to audiences who are perfectly primed for this devastating yet all too familiar story of striving for greatness.”

“I have visceral memories of being a 16-year-old wannabe filmmaker in small town Texas and watching IFC – it was my only way to see independent films that I couldn’t find at the local video store or movie theater. Fifteen years later, I’m proud to say that my first film is a part of the IFC family,” Hadaway added.