IFC Films has acquired USrights in all media to Bahman Ghobadi's award-winning Iranian best foreignlanguage Oscar entry Turtles Can Fly.

Set in Ghobadi's nativeKurdistan on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq, Turtles Can Fly follows the fortunes of a 13-year-old satellite dishinstaller who falls for an orphan girl.

The picture, which won theGolden Shell at San Sebastian and the Silver Bear at Chicago, stars thenon-actor children Soran Ebrahim, Avaz Latif and Hirsh Feyssal. Ghobadi, whosecredits include A Time For Drunken Horses, also wrote and produced.

"Turtles Can Fly is a phenomenal addition to the IFC slate," IFCEntertainment president Jonathan Sehring said in a statement.

"Bahman Ghobadi has createda masterpiece and Turtles will berecognised in years to come as one of the greatest anti-war films ever made.

"We are exceptionally proudto be associated with such a timely and provocative work and to establish arelationship with one of the great filmmakers of this era. Turtles Can Fly has found a natural home with us."

Sehring and IFC's directorof acquisitions Sarah Lash negotiated the deal with Silvere Moreau of BACFilms.