Maximum Films International (MFI) has picked up international sales rights on Sundance US dramatic competitor Sugar, the follow-up film from the production team behind Half Nelson. The HBO Films production screens in Toronto in Contemporary World Cinema.

Written and directed by Ryan Fleck and Anne Boden and produced by Paul Mezey, Jamie Patricof and Jeremy Kipp Walker, the film stars Miguel Santos as a Dominican baseball player making his way in the US minor leagues. Screen reviewer Patrick Z. McGavin hailed the film as 'extraordinary A singular examination of sports, class and the American social fabric '

MFI's international sales slate includes Deepa Mehta's Heaven On Earth, Michael McGowan's gala title One Week, Atom Egoyan's Cannes competitor Adoration, Randall Cole's Slamdance title Real Time and Sallie Aprahamian's 2007 Venice title Broken Lines.