Universal Pictures International Studio has acquired Belgian, Netherlands and Luxembourg distribution rights to De Storm (The Storm).

The Dutch film was directed by Ben Sombogaart, whose latest film Bride Flight was released in cinemas in the Netherlands on October 16 and opened third in the Dutch box office chart.

'Ben Sombogaart is clearly one of the most talented Dutch directors working today,' said Christian Grass, President of Universal Pictures International Studio. 'I think our involvement in De Storm gives a pretty good indication of one of the many ways in which we can work with international filmmakers. We are very happy to be working with NL Film as their distribution partners on De Storm and we look forward to working with them on other projects in the future.'

De Storm , which is currently in production, was written by Rik Launspach and Marjolein Beumer and is produced by Alain de Levita and Johan Nijenhuis at NL Film. The cast includes Sylvia Hoeks and Barry Atsma. Universal Pictures International will release the film in Benelux in the fall, 2009.

Set against the storms of 1953, it tells the story of a young farmer's daughter, Julia (Hoeks), who is rescued against her will from a storm by a young airforce sergeant (Astma) and is forced to leave her baby son behind in the rising water. Julia is grief-stricken but the sergeant is determined to make amends and help her find her son.

'This film is set against one of the most pivotal moments in our country's history', producer Alain de Levita said. 'The events following the breaching of the sea levees in 1953 have become the Dutch symbol for the way in which a divided people were unified in a monumental effort to rebuild lives and protect the land in the ongoing battle against the sea. '