Alliance Atlantis has made its first feature film acquisition since the reorganization of the company, taking all international rights including the US, but excluding Canada, to The Blue Butterfly starring William Hurt and directed by Lea Pool.

The film, currently shooting in the rain forests of Costa Rica, was acquired by Charlotte Mickie in her new role as managing director, international motion picture sales, Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group, and confirms that the company will remain involved in film sales despite the dismantling of its previous LA-based sales team under Mark Horowitz.

"It's tremendously exciting to handle a film with such a large canvas," said Mickie. "The scope of this incredible yet true story, set in the jungles of Costa Rica, promises to offer an extraordinary cinematic experience, especially in the hands of Lea Pool."

The Blue Butterfly is the story of a terminally ill 10 year-old boy (played by Marc Donato, soon to be seen in White Oleander) whose one last dream is to catch the most beautiful butterfly on earth, the mythic and elusive Blue Morpho which is found in the rain forests of Central and South America. His mother (Pascal Bussieres) persuades a renowned entomologist (Hurt) to take them on a trip to the jungle to search for the butterfly.

The film was developed by Francine Allaire and produced by Allaire, Arnie Gelbart and Claude Bonin of Montreal's Galafilm Productions and Michael Haggiag of the UK's Global Arts Productions. Film Tonic has Canadian rights.

Pool's credits include Lost And Delirious (2001), Emporte-Moi (1999), Mouvements Du Desir (1994) and La Demoiselle Sauvage (1991).

Alliance Atlantis has a busy Cannes with the screening in competition of Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine, an out of competition screening of Atom Egoyan's Ararat and the Directors Fortnight screening of Lynne Ramsay's Morvern Callar.