Miramax Films has unveiled that Guinevere will be the first feature available for downloading through its 12-picture internet pay-per-view deal with web-based entertainment provider SightSound.com (ScreenDaily April 19, 2000).

The 1999 title, starring Sarah Polley and Stephen Rea, can be downloaded from Jan 22 for a fee of $3.49 for a 24-hour viewing license. The 500 megabyte film will require 30 minutes to download over a broadband connection. After the license expires, the downloaded file - and any copies - will be useless.

Under the terms of the non-exclusive pay-per-view distribution pact, SightSound will encode and encrypt the selected films, although Miramax will operate the sites from which the films can be downloaded. SightSound will also process e-commerce transactions on Miramax's behalf.

Founded in 1995, SightSound last May released The Quantum Project, the first feature film produced exclusively for distribution via the web. It has signed a range of movie distribution deals, including a 35-title pact with Franchise Pictures, one of its investors.