LA-based production company Sandstorm Films is to partner with equity investors Media Cooperation One GmbH (MCOne) in Germany and Matador Pictures in the UK to produce a slate of films led by the kickboxing action film The Square Circle directed by France's Olivier Megaton (La Sirene Roge). Lightning Entertainment is handling international sales here.

The agreement calls for Sandstorm to develop and produce the films that will be co-financed by MCOne and Matador in return for an equity stake in each picture. MCOne will also retain all rights in German-speaking territories.

Sandstorm partners Carol Kottenbrook and Scott Einbinder will produce The Square Circle with Matador partner Nigel Thomas. MCOne managing partners Sven Ebeling and Hagen Behring will serve as executive producers.

The Square Circle features world kickboxing champion Hector Echavarria as a fighter lured out of retirement who gets more than he bargained for when he arrives in London for the bout.

The film is being produced in conjunction with Hugo Bergson-Vuillaume's Paris-based Black Mask Productions which is representing the film in France. Bergson will also serve as an executive producer. Scanbox in Scandinavia, Lusomundo in Portugal and Skynet in the Philippines have already purchased territorial rights.

The second film being produced under the agreement is Hellion, a supernatural thriller written by Sandstorm's third partner JS Cardone.