US distributor Wellspring hasacquired all North American rights to Savi Gabizon's Israeli box office hit Nina'sTragedies.

Wellspring plans an early2005 US release for the picture, which won 11 Israeli Academy Awards andrecounts a turbulent year in the life of a Tel Aviv family through the eyes ofa sensitive teenage boy.

Marie Therese Guirgis,Wellspring's head of acquisitions, and Rob Williams, Wellspring's manager ofacquisitions, negotiated the deal with the film's producer Anat Assoulin andproducer-director Gabizon.

"Savi Gabizon shows thatthere is room for grace and humour amidst the sadness and conflict of dailylife in Israel," Guirgis said in a statement. "The success he's had in hisnative country is a testament to his talent and we are really confident thatthe American audience is going to love his work."