Neil Friedman'sLA-based sales and distribution outfit Menemsha Entertainment has acquiredinternational rights to Kamchatka,Marcelo Pineyro's latest film which is representing Argentina in theforeign language film category of the Academy Awards.

Friedman picked up the filmfrom Argentina's Patagonik Film Group, for which Friedman had alreadysold Son Of The Bride, lastyear's Argentinian submission and an Oscar nominee for best foreignlanguage film. Patagonik, whose other credits include Nine Queens, EveryStewardess Goes To Heaven and thisyear's entry from Uruguay - Corazon De Fuego - is handling the North American sale.

Kamkatchka stars Ricardo Darin (Son Of The Bride, NineQueens) and Cecilia Roth (AllAbout My Mother) as a couple whoflee the authorities in Buenos Aires after the military coup in 1976 and hideout in a suburban house with their two sons under assumed identities.

"Menemsha is so proudto be working on Kamchatka,"said Friedman yesterday. "It is a magical film and we all can use some magicin our lives. The film has two major movie stars and that only adds to thepower of Marcelo Pineyro's wondrous movie-making."

Menemsha has a growing listof foreign-language movies to its credit including Color Of Paradise from Iran, Autumn Spring from the Czech Republic and Blind Spot:Hitler's Secretary fromAustria.