Strand Releasing hasacquired US theatrical and home entertainment rights and The Sundance Channelhas acquired US TV rights to Patrice Chereau's Berlin prize winner SonFrere.

According to the two deals,the film will have its US premiere on The Sundance Channel in early 2004 aspart of an on-air focus of Chereau's work. Strand will then put the filmout theatrically.

The Sundance deal wasnegotiated by vice president of acquisitions Christian Vesper with Eric Lagesseof the film's sales agent Flach Pyramide International, while Jon Gerransstruck the theatrical and home video deal with Lagesse on behalf of Strand.

The Son Frere release pattern follows a similar design fordocumentary The Cockettes whichpremiered on Sundance before hitting theatres through Strand in 2002, althoughthis time the deals for the film were struck separately.

Son Frere, which won Chereau the Silver Bear for best directorat the Berlin Film Festival in Feb, is based on the novel by Philippe Bessonand follows the intense relationship between two brothers when one announces tothe other that he has a terminal illness. It stars Bruno Todeschini and EricCaravaca.

Chereau, who was presidentof the jury at this year's Cannes Film Festival, previously won theGolden Bear for Intimacy (2000)and has a rich filmography including L'Homme Blesse (1983), La Reine Margot (1993) and Those Who Love Me Can Take The Train (1999).