THINKFilm has picked up all US rights to Daniele Thompson's OrchestraSeats (FauteuilsD'Orchestre), which willrepresent France in this season's foreign language Oscar race.

The picture, which will open in the US in February 2007 under thenew title of Avenue Montaigne, registered more than one million admissions in France in itsfirst two weeks of release through Mars last February.

Cecile de France stars as a na've woman from the provinces whocomes to work as a waitress in Paris and has a transformative effect on theestablishment's illustrious clientele.

Valerie Lemericier, Albert Dupontel, Claude Brasseur and SydneyPollack also star.

"Avenue Montaigne has it all - charm, wit, warmth, glamourand style - and it's that rare foreign language film that both critics andcrowds can embrace," THINKFilm's theatrical chief Mark Urman said.

"I am thrilled and honoured to have been chosen by my owncountry to run in this mythical race!" Thompson added. "I am veryhappy that THINKFilm took a chance and believed in my film when they saw it inCannes." Thompson co-wrote the screenplay with her son ChristopherThompson.

THINKFilm's Urman and vicepresident of acquisitions Daniel Katz negotiated the deal with Pierre Weisbeinat Greenroom Pictures; Weisbein was representing the US sale of the film onbehalf of StudioCanal.