Newly created Paris-based sales agent Funny Balloons has acquired Aaltra from directors Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern. The Belgian road comedy, which was also written by the director/stars was a contender for a Tiger Award at the recent Rotterdam Festival.

Peter Danner, a former sales director at 20th Century Fox in London, and Pape Boye who has worked in sales and acquisitions at StudioCanal and TVOR started Funny Balloons with the ambition to acquire "films with strong identity and a universal appeal which transcend language barriers."

In a statement Danner said, "We want to handle a limited number of productions, between 12 to 15 annually, and work closely with producers, filmmakers and buyers when preparing the international presentation and marketing of their films."

The company is currently negotiating the rights for a further six films and has already acquired Jean-Jacques Zilbermann's Les Fautes D'Orthographe for foreign sales. The Euros 4.5m film produced by Agat Films is currently in post-production and stars Carole Bouquet, Olivier Gourmet and Damien Jouillerot.

With Aaltra, Funny Balloons will handle worldwide rights across all media excluding France and Benelux and will screen the film for buyers in Berlin.