Steve Jobs film to be released in April

The "biopic" starring Ashton Kutcher as Jobs, who died in 2011, will premiere later this month on the closing night of the Sundance Film Festival, according to independent distributor Open Road Films.

Written by Matthew Whitely and directed by Joshua Michael Stern, jOBS focuses on the Apple co-founder's life from 1971 through 2000.

Walter Isaacson biography

A deal was announced for the film to be distributed in North America by Open Road, which is owned by major cinema chains AMC Entertainment and Regal Entertainment.

"jOBS is certain to resonate with audiences and we are thrilled to partner with Five Star Films to bring this film to theatres," said Open Road chief executive Tom Ortenberg.

Sony Pictures is backing its own Jobs film based on the biography of the Apple co-founder's life written by Walter Isaacson.

The screenplay is being written by Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin, whose works include The Social Network, a play on the birth of Facebook.