First Look Media has acquired worldwide rights to Reverge Anselmo's $16m romance Stateside, which features a star-studded cast including Rachel Leigh-Cook, Jonathan Tucker and Val Kilmer.

Meanwhile, First Look Media's worldwide licensing division, Overseas Filmgroup, has named industry veteran Amy Beecroft as its director of international distribution. She will handle international sales starting in MIFED.

First Look Media's domestic distribution arm First Look Pictures plans a spring 2004 theatrical release in the US for Stateside, which is expected to be complete by early December.

Stateside is based on a true story written and directed by Anselmo and centres on a rebellious Marine on leave who strikes up a relationship with a schizophrenic musician.

Leigh Cook stars as the musician while Tucker plays the Marine who rebels against his tough-as-nails drill instructor (Kilmer).

Anselmo has written and directed a raft of titles through Seven Hills Pictures, including action-adventure The Outfitters and the romance Lover's Prayer. He is currently in pre-production on Runaway Bay.

Beecroft's appointment as director of international distribution at Overseas Filmgroup follows her most recent post as vice president of international sales at Cinemavault.

She will report directly to Liz Mackiewicz, senior vice president of worldwide sales and distribution.

'Amy's qualifications and general enthusiasm set her apart' Mackiewicz said. 'Her past experience in international sales will add a new dimension to our continually expanding relationships and sales methods.'

Overseas Filmgroup's current slate includes The Boys From County Clare, starring Andrea Corr; Snow Walker, starring Barry Pepper and Annabella Piugattuk; The Tesseract, starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers; and Luther, which stars Joseph Fiennes.