Lions Gate Films International has picked up international distribution rights to the Argentinian hit Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas) which was acquired for North American distribution earlier this year by Sony Pictures Classics. The pick-up echoes Lions Gate's acquisition of another Latin American movie, Amores Perros, which became a breakout hit for the company.

The directorial debut of Fabian Bielinsky, Nine Queens attracted over 1.2 million admissions in Argentina following its release last year. It has also grossed more than $800,000 on a 40-print release in Spain since its opening on September 24.

The film tells the story of a con man who takes a rookie criminal under his wing to teach him the tricks of the trade and gets involved in a plot to fence the Nine Queens, an priceless sheet of nine defectively printed German stamps. Produced by Pablo Bossi, the film stars Ricardo Darin, Gaston Pauls and Leticia Bredice.

Also on Lions Gate's bustling London/Mifed slate are Roger Avary's Brett Easton Ellis adaptation, The Rules Of Attraction, featuring James Van Der Beek and Kip Pardue, and romantic comedy All Over The Guy, with cameos from Lisa Kudrow and Christina Ricci.

* Lions Gate Films, the US distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment, is teaming with John Vanco and Noah Cowan's Cowboy Pictures to release Campbell Scott's digital video picture Final, starring Denis Leary and Hope Davis. Trust Film Sales has international rights.