Lightning Entertainment haspicked up international rights to Antoine Fuqua's blues documentary LightningIn A Bottle, which was executive produced by Martin Scorsese and will bereleased in the US through Sony Pictures Classics in October.

The picture spotlights abenefit tribute concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall in February 2003featuring such luminaries as B B King, Dr John and Aerosmith, interspersed witha history of blues from its origins in Africa through to its influence onhip-hop.

Lightning Entertainment willplatform stage a special market premiere event for buyers in Cannes on May 15.

Alex Gibney and MargaretBodde served as producers on the picture, a Vulcan Productions presentation inassociation with Jigsaw Productions and Cappa Productions. Paul G Allen andJody Patton also served as executive producers.

"Lightning In A Bottleexemplifies what great documentary film-making is all about," LightningEntertainment president Richard S Guardian said in a statement.

"The film captures theresounding spirit of blues music and provides viewers with an amazing look intoa one-of-a-kind concert event."

"The idea behindLightning In A Bottle was to find a way to celebrate the blues, recognise itsimportance and influence and raise significant funds for blues musicians inneed and their families," Scorsese added.

"Everyone involved -Antoine, myself, the crew and, of course, all of the musicians - feel atremendous debt to this music and want to do something to try to pay thatback."