The Weinstein Company has picked up worldwide rights toBarbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck's documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up And Sing which will have its world premiere at the TorontoInternational Film Festival next month. It is the first documentary in 14 yearsto be screened in Toronto as a gala presentation.

Produced by Kopple and Peck, the film follows the lives andcareers of the Dixie Chicks over a period of three years during which time leadsinger Natalie Maines made an infamous anti-George Bush comment at a concertand the group came under political attack and received death threats.

'Iam extremely proud to be associated with this film because it's not only anoutstanding and creative piece of work but it also exposes our responsibilityas Americans to confront our fundamental right to freedom of speech,' saidTWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein in a statement.

MichelleKrumm, executive vice president and co-head of acquisitions and co-productions,brought the project to the company. TWC plans to release it domestically later this year.

Krumm,Michael Cole, co-president of production, and Barry Littman, executive vicepresident of business and legal affairs, negotiated the agreement on behalf ofTWC. CAA and Simon Renshaw negotiated on behalf of the Dixie Chicks.