Focus Features will handleinternational sales in mainland Europe excluding the UK for Zhang Yimou'sin-production martial arts spectacle, House Of Flying Daggers.

Sales on Yimou's firstproject since the action epic Herowill begin at MIFED next month. Producer Bill Kong will collaborate with Focusfor the third time following Heroand Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

The story centres on abodyguard and his beautiful charge who encounter betrayal, danger and love asthey journey through a beguiling landscape.

Yimou wrote the screenplaywith Li Feng and Wang Bin.

House Of Flying Daggers stars Zhang Ziyi, whose credits include Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Andy Lau (Infernal Affairs), along with Anita Mui and Kanishiro Takeshi.

"Focus and itsoverseas distributors pride themselves on our long-term relationships, and weare thrilled to be working again with Zhang Yimou, Zhang Ziyi and BillKong," Focus co-president David Linde said in a statement.

The company continues tohandle international sales on Hero, which to date has grossed more than $100minternationally with the UK, Australia and the US still to open.

Focus' current andupcoming releases include Sophia Coppola's Lost In Translation, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's 21 Grams; Michael Gondry's Eternal Sunshine Of TheSpotless Mind, and Mira Nair'sVanity Fair.