Fortissimo Film Sales has acquired world rights to documentary Spellbound, an account of eight ambitious young finalists in America's national spelling contest.

Spellbound is currently on release in the U.S and Canada where it has taken over $5m at the box-office since its premiere earlier this year via Thinkfilm.

The acquisition of the film was handled on behalf of the producers by Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment and Micah Green of Cinetic Media, and Winnie Lau and Michael J. Werner representing Fortissimo.

Earlier this year, Fortissimo also acquired international sales rights to Capturing The Friedmans in another deal brokered by Cinetic Media. Both Capturing The Friedmans and Spellbound were previously sold to US pay-TV giant HBO, which has been collaborating on their US theatrical releases.

Fortissimo plans an enhanced international launch later this year to complement the sales previously made to Australia (Hopscotch) and the UK (Metrodome).

A directorial debut by Jeffrey Blitz, who also produced the film together with Sean Welch, Spellbound was nominated for an Academy Award this year for Best Documentary Feature.