Powerful French sales and production operation ARP Selection sold Japanese rights on Mr Ibrahim to Gaga Communications.

The film (aka Les Fleurs Du Koran, aka Momo) by French director Francois Dupeyron, stars Omar Sharif as an elderly Arab grocer who develops an enduring friendship with a 12 year-old Jewish boy.

"Gaga has been tracking this film for a very long time and we are very happy to have them on board," said ARP co-chiefs Michele Halberstadt and Laurent Petin in a statement. "We are so pleased to introduce this outstanding film to Japanese audiences," said Gaga COO Nick Marumo.

The film was previously sold to Sony Pictures Classics for several territories, to Lucky Red for Italy and Shapira Films for Israel.