ArclightFilms will handle worldwide sales at the Cannes market for first-time Australian director Murali K Thalluri's drama 2:37, which was recently added to the Un Certain Regard line-up at Cannes.

Arclighthas already closeddeals with Village Roadshow in Australia, SND in France, Manga in Spain, andCinequanon in Japan.

2:37 is the interwoven story of six high school students whoface immense social challenges. The story begins with one of the studentscommitting suicide, although the person's identity remains unknown until theend of the picture.

TeresaPalmer, Joel Mackenzie, Frank Sweet, Clementine Mellor, Charles Baird MarniSpillane and Sam Harris star.

Thalluriwrote and directed, and also produced along with Nick Matthews and Kent Smith.Arclight Films' managing director Gary Hamilton served as executive producerwith Kent Smith.

"We'vereceived an overwhelming response from buyers who have already seen thefilm," Hamilton said, adding: "Murali is without a doubt the mostexciting talent to emerge from Australia in the last twenty years.