Austrian/UK sales companyEastWest Filmdistribution has acquired international sales rights to Russian dramaYarik.

First-time feature directorsKlaus Hundsbichler and Cecile Henry direct the story about a Russian child whois abducted and sold on the black market.

MBI, Fischer Film and OrkenFilm are the co-producers.

EastWest will be invitebuyers to screen the project as a work-in-progress during the Cannes market.

'We are incrediblyexcited about selling Yarik,which includes an electrifying performance from Russian youngster MaximKolesnikov,' said EastWest director Steve Walsh. 'This is a film thathad to be made to help expose the scandal of people in the West who payenormous sums of money to buy children from poor countries in the East.'

EastWest's Cannes slate alsoincludes Kontakt, TotallyPersonal and Shop of Dreams.