Michael Moore's follow-up to Fahrenheit 9/11 led a strong Cannes sales market for Paramount Vantage, solidifying its credentials as an emergent heavyweight supplier.

Moore descended on the Croisette to personally introduce the project - which he is now understood to be filming at undisclosed locations - and described it as a wide-ranging polemic that addresses numerous issues blighting the US.

Overture Films holds North American rights and a late summer/early 2009 release is on the cards.

According to senior vice president of international sales Alex Walton, Vantage's marquee title is now virtually sold out. Deal were closed with Tele Munchen (Germany), Mikado (Italy), Paradiso (Benelux), Svensk (Scandinavia), Surreal (CIS), Front Row (Middle East), Hollywood (Greece), R Film (Turkey), Ecofilmes (Portugal), SPI (Poland and Hungary), United King (Israel), Bonton (Czech Republic), Fivia (former Yugoslavia), Transylvania (Romania and Bulgaria), Myndform (Iceland), Festive Films (Singapore), Queen Film (Indonesia) and WEG (India).

Vantage is in talks with buyers from the last two remaining territories in the UK and Spain. Paramount Pictures International will distribute the film directly in several territories including France and Australia.

Vantage is close to completing sales on the romance Last Chance Harvey and spy drama Traitor, two titles under its international distribution deal set up with Overture Films last year.

Last Chance Harvey, which stars Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman, and sold in Cannes to La Fabrique De Films (France), BIM (Italy), Shaw (Singapore) and PT Amero (Indonesia).

Previous sales include Momentum in the UK, Tele Munchen in Germany, Wide Pictures in Spain, Icon in Australia, RCV in Benelux, Gussi in Latin America, EEAP in CIS and Eastern Europe, Gulf Film in the Middle East, Lusomundo in Portugal, Ascot Elite in Switzerland, Hollywood in Greece, R Film in Turkey, United King in Israel, Myndform in Iceland, Pacific in Thailand and WEG in India. Overture Films will release Last Chance Harvey in the US this December.

Traitor, whichstars Guy Pearce, Don Cheadle and Jeff Daniels, sold to Nordisk in Scandinavia. Previous sales include Momentum in the UK, Square One in Germany, Wide Pictures in Spain, RCV in Benelux, Gussi in Latin America, EEAP in CIS and Eastern Europe, Gulf Film in the Middle East, Lusomundo in Portugal, Hollywood in Greece, R Film in Turkey, United King in Israel, Myndform in Iceland, Pacific in
Thailand and WEG in India. Traitor is set for an August 29 US release through Overture.

Vantage confirmed it had sold Martin Scorsese's upcoming thriller Shutter Island to Tele Munchen in Germany, Medusa in Italy, Manga Films in Spain and EEAP in CIS. Leonardo DiCaprio headlines the cast in this 1950s-period mystery thriller, which Paramount will release in the US in autumn 2009.

'Paramount Vantage has established immediate brand identity within the marketplace, which has been a tremendous asset for our international sales operation,' Walton said.

'The quality of the films within Vantage's portfolio and the calibre of the film-makers we are fortunate enough to work with has produced a rich and diverse slate. Since the inception of our sales division, our international partnership with Overture Films has been an important component of our business model. We could not be more excited to be taking this relationship one step further with our partnership on the new Michael Moore film.'