Fine Line Features kept the buying momentum going in the finaldays of Toronto yesterday, picking up worldwide rights to The Year Of Yao, the documentary about basketball starYao Ming which had its world premiere here.

The company is planning a 2005 release for the film which followsthe Chinese player Yao Ming through his debut in the US NBA playing for theHouston Rockets. James Stern (also head of Endgame Entertainment) and Adam DelDeo co-directed and co-produced the film which was produced by Endgame with NBAEntertainment.

"Like the very best of movies, The Year Of Yao is dramatically riveting and emotionally moving," said Guy Stodel, Senior Vice President,Acquisitions and Productions, in a statement "Even though it's about a sportspersonality, in some ways it's no more about basketball than Spellbound is about spelling. It's about one young man's pursuit of his dream, and about the power ofsport and friendship to bridge international relations and culturaldifferences."

The deal wasnegotiated on behalf of Fine Line Features by Carolyn Blackwood with Guy Stodeland Sejin Park, and on behalf of the film by James Stern and Adam Del Deo withRick Hess and Roeg Sutherland of CAA.