Summit Entertainment is in final negotiations to seal yet another international distribution deal - with Armyan Bernstein's Beacon Pictures.

Summit is not selling any Beacon films at Cannes but is expected to be selling key territories on Beacon's first two films Ladder 49 and Raising Helen by MIFED.

Beacon signed a five-year production and distribution deal with Walt Disney Studios in Dec 2002 under which Disney handles worldwide distribution on all films excluding territories such as Italy, France and Japan.

Beacon was resurrected by Bernstein and Charlie Lyons last year after Beacon Communications - which Bernstein ran with Marc Abraham - dissolved and Abraham left to found Universal-based Strike Entertainment.

In its long history, Beacon produced pictures such as Air Force One, Bring It On, Spy Game, The Hurricane, 13 Days, The Family Man and For Love Of The Game and had a loyal group of leading international buyers such as Metropolitan, Kinowelt, Entertainment, Toho-Towa and Roadshow.

Beacon formerly handled its sales through COO Thomas Bliss, who went with Abraham to Strike, and sales agents such as UPI, Buena Vista Film Sales and J&M Entertainment.

The Summit arrangement sees Beacon join an illustrious list of suppliers handled by Patrick Wachsberger and Bob Heyward's busy company such as Walden Media, Crusader Entertainment, Mandalay Pictures, Constantin Film, Artisan Pictures, Alcon Entertainment and Escape Artists. Summit has also teamed with Intermedia to form I/S Film Distribution which handles sales on all Summit and Intermedia films.

Ladder 49 is an action drama about firefighters starring Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta and directed by Jay Russell. Raising Helen is a family comedy directed by Garry Marshall (Runaway Bride) and starring Kate Hudson, John Corbett and Joan Cusack. Raising Helen was produced by Hyde Park Entertainment but Disney retained worldwide distribution rights