Icon Film Distribution has won the battle for UK rights toWoody Allen's Match Point.

The highprofile deal with sales agent HanWay Films was sealed by new Icon UK presidentAlex Hamilton.

Match Point has now sold to 46 territories around the world,including DreamWorks for North America. The UK was one of the last majorterritories to close. Several UK distributors have been circling the film- Allen's first to shoot in the UK - since its world premiere outof competition at Cannes.

Icon plans an early 2006 nationwide release for MatchPoint. Icon has taken theatrical and video rights to the film, while the BBC - which backed the film - has broadcast rights.

Tim Haslam, CEO Hanway Films, said: "Icon have shownintense enthusiasm to acquire the UK rights of this sought-after film. I amvery excited and confident that Woody's Match Point has landed with a highly imaginative distributionteam at Icon."

He told ScreenDaily.com that HanWay had received multiple offers for the film from respected UK distributors.

Hamilton added "We are exceptionally pleased to haveUK rights on Match Point. We feelstrongly that it will be a very high profile title over the comingmonths"

The Icon deal comes as Allen prepares to shoot his second UK film, which is also being sold by HanWay. The as yet untitled film, known as Woody Allen's Summer Project 2005 (WASP 2005), starts shooting in the week of June 27.

Since taking over from Sally Caplan in April, Hamilton hasacquired three other films for Icon: The Night Listener, starring Robin Williams, romantic comedy FastTrack and Bent Hamer's Factotum.