Tony Manne's New York-based sales and distribution company BristolMedia has bulked up its Cannes sales slate after picking up internationalrights to Xan Cassavetes' Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession.

Ironically while this will be Z Channel: A MagnificentObsession's marketdebut, the picture played out of competition at last year's CannesInternational Film Festival.

Cassavetes' directorial debutexplores the historic influence of Z Channel, Los Angeles' first pay-TV servicethat was launched in 1974. Robert Altman, Jacqueline Bisset, James Woods,Quentin Tarantino, and Jim Jarmusch are among the Hollywood luminaries whoprovide commentary.

Bristol Media negotiated the purchase from Innovative FilmAssociates through Cinetic Media. Rick Ross and Marshall Persinger served asproducers, with Alison Palmer Bourke and Ed Carroll coming on board asexecutive producers.

"The reaction to thisdocumentary at Cannes was tremendous, and evoked a similar response to how ZChannel's audience were attuned to the channel's diverse and independent filmofferings during its glory days," Manne said in a statement.

"It is a tribute to not only Z's influence on today's filmmakers,but to Xan Cassavetes' talent to gather the many voices and images that providethe backdrop for Jerry Harvey's foresight for unprecedented event programming."

Z Channel: AMagnificent Obsessionwill premiere in North America on May 9 on the IFC cable network.