While Sundance buyers circled hyped early picks like Sunshine Cleaning and The Wackness, the Saturday nightfocus was on Nanette Burstein's high school documentary American Teen.

Fox Searchlight were believed to be among interested parties following the world premiere earlier in the day.

Carlos Moreno's Colombian crime saga Perro Como Perro was also drawing heat as many reported a generally unremarkable start to Sundance 2008 in which no single film has emerged as a must-see

Of course it is relatively early and deals may well close any day now
on Sunshine Cleaning and The Wackness - both of which premiered on
Friday.

Despite mixed reports there was interest in Barry Levinson's Hollywood fable What Just Happened' starring Robert DeNiro that premiered on Saturday night.

Sunday's world premieres may spark action with the hotly-anticipated Phoebe In Wonderland, The Mysteries Of Pittsburgh, Incendiary as well as Red.

Meanwhile US sports network ESPN announced on Saturday afternoon that it had secured exclusive worldwide television and digital rights to
Susan Koch's documentary Kicking It ahead of the film's world premiere
on Saturday night [19].

ESPN will work with the film-makers to secure theatrical, DVD and
other distribution on the story of troubled individuals who compete in
the 4th Annual Homeless World Cup that was staged in South Africa in
September 2006.

Ted Leonsis produced the film, which would appear to embody the notion
of 'filmanthropy' he coined at Sundance last year.

Leonsis hailed 'worldwide leader' ESPN's ability to spotlight a story that
encapsulated 'the triumph of the spirit over hardship through the
redemptive power of sport.'

A public service announcement by the film's narrator Colin Farrell
will accompany airing of the film and guide viewers to a direct action
website.

Topics