Australian distributor Palace Films has acquiredseven new pictures, including Greek blockbuster Brides by directorPantelis Voulgaris.

Brides,acquired from Britol Media International, is part of the first significant batch ofpurchases since Palace founder and managing director Antonio Zeccola - and hisson Benjamin - resumed responsibility for acquisitions. Buying was previouslyhandled by Tait Brady, who left to join Film Finance Corporation Australia.

Palace has also acquired two Berlin competitionfilms: The Beat My Heart Skipped from Celluloid Dreams and HannesStohr's comedy One Day In Europe from Beta Cinema.

Zeccola also acquired Amos Gitai's Free Zone, starring Natalia Portman, in Berlin.

Palace also bought Australian rights to BertrandBlier's How Much Do You Make', which stars Gerard Depardieu and MonicaBelluci, from Wild Bunch, and Once You're Born directed by Marco TullioGiordana, from TF1.

Palace is currently also supporting a number ofAustralian films. Currently in production is the erotic mystery The Book ofRevelation, the second feature from Ana Kokkinos (Head On), starringTom Long, Greta Scacchi and Colin Friels, and director Ann Turner'spsychological thriller Irresistible, starring Susan Sarandon and SamNeill. Due to shoot from May is M, Geoffrey's Wright's (RomperStomper) modern adaptation of Macbeth.