Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Patricia McCormick, ‘Sold’ is a powerful drama about child sex trafficking in Nepal and India.

The X Files’ Gillian Anderson plays a photographer who attempts to rescue a young Nepalese girl forced into prostitution in India, along with other young slaves.

The film had its European premiere at the London Indian Film Festival. It is US director Jeffrey Brown’s feature-length debut.

“Honestly, when I began making the film, I had no idea there are somewhere between 21 and 30 million slaves on the planet Earth. I knew it was an issue but I wasn’t as educated as I am now. But the impetus was to do something to help kids,” he said.

Gillian Anderson explained how she was immediately drawn to the story even though her role she was not clearly defined at the start.

“The director and producer, Jeffrey, came to me quite a long time ago with the script, when the character was a single line and asked if, just based on the importance of the issue, whether it was something that I would be interested in being a part of. And the script was so strong and my growing understanding of the current issue was such that I thought even with just one line I couldn’t say no,” said the actress.

Executive produced by Emma Thompson and co-starring David Arquette and Seema Biswas, ‘Sold’ has been warmly welcomed on the film festival circuit. Its makers say their hope is to help raise awareness about human trafficking in the world.