Italy's RAI Cinema has bought a three-picture package from Intermedia including Harrison Ford-starrer K19: The Widowmaker as well as Irwin Winkler's family drama Life As A House from New Line International. The films were acquired on RAI's behalf by Lakeshore International which has signed an exclusive multi-year acquisition agency agreement with RAI to buy US films for distribution in Italy.

The three films acquired from Intermedia were K:19, K-Pax which is a Universal release domestically directed by Iain Softley with Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey starring and Afterimage which is playing in American Spectrum at Sundance and which stars rock star John Mellencamp.

Life As A House stars Kevin Kline as an architect whose dying wish is to build the perfect house for his family. Kristin Scott Thomas, Mary Steenburgen, Jena Malone and Hayden Christensen co-star.

RAI Cinema was formed as the integrated film arm of the public broadcaster in Dec 1999 under CEO Giancarlo Leone; it recently sealed a partnership with France's StudioCanal to start up a joint venture company to handle Hollywood titles which is expected to handle some 15 titles over the 2001-2002 season.