Germany's CineMedia has secured an output deal for theatrical distribution in German-speaking territories of its film titles with Buena Vista International.

The long-term deal covers all current feature films where CineMedia has German territorial rights and kicks off with What Women Want, the Mel Gibson film that goes into production this summer.

"Following the purchase of our first Hollywood film package at the beginning of the year, this long-term co-operation deal firmly establishes us in the growth market of rights and licensing as well as co-productions," said CineMedia CEO Wolfgang Grass.

Since it floated on the Neuer Markt last year CineMedia has moved quickly to reshape its operations. In January it acquired a package of 16 titles from Gibson and Bruce Davey's Icon Entertainment (Screendaily Jan 25).

In an attempt to build itself into a fully integrated media concern CineMedia has this year begun a round of talks which would take it further into production and co-production. Last year it bought a 60% stake in Taurus Films, one of Germany's larger independent TV production outfits. In February it signed a three project co-production deal with the UK's Own2Feet (Screendaily Feb 15). And last month it began talks to co-produce a $65-75m adaptation of an unnamed best-selling novel, to be directed by City Hall director Harold Becker (Screendaily March 14).