Recently formed NorthAmerican distributor THINKFilm has made its first acquisition of worldwiderights to a film - Thom Fitzgerald's ensemble drama The Event.

Currently in production, the picture marks a returnto theatrical film for the acclaimed director of The Hanging Garden and Beefcake after his USA Networks TV movie Wolf Girl. Starring in the film, which is shooting in New York, are Parker Posey, Olympia Dukakis, Don McKellar, Sarah Polley, Jane Leevesand Brent Carver.

The Event centers around a series of unexplained deathsoccurring in the gay community in New York's Chelsea district. Poseyplays a district attorney investigating the most recent case, a suspiciousapparent suicide. Her interviews with friends and family of the man trigger flashbacksrevealing the secrets to his life and death.

Fitzgerald and BryanHofbauer are producing the film which was written by Fitzgerald, Tim Marbackand Steven Hillyer; Hillyer, Vicki McCarty and Robert Flutie are executiveproducers.

THINKFilm president JeffSackman and vice president of acquisitions and business affairs Randy Manisconcluded the deal with Flutie after they and head of distribution Mark Urmanread the screenplay and viewed select footage from the first days of productionin New York.

The Event is the eighthacquisition for THINKFilm since it was formed last September. The other moviesset for release this year are Laurent Cantet's Time Out, Bart Freundlich's World Traveler, Ismail Merchant's The Mystic Masseur, Peter Care's The Dangerous Lives Of AltarBoys, Gabriele Muccino's TheLast Kiss, Peter Mattei's LoveIn The Time Of Money and Gus VanSant's Gerry.