Focus Features Internationalhas finally closed its deal to buy international rights excluding NorthAmerica, the UK and Australia to Whitewater Films' debut feature Mean Creek, which will play in the Directors' Fortnight sectionat Cannes.

Focus Features executivevice president of international sales and distribution Glen Basner and vicepresident of acquisitions Jason Resnick negotiated the deal.

Directed by first-timerJacob Estes from his Nicholl Award-winning screenplay, Mean Creek centres on a children's game of revenge that goesawry during a boat trip in Oregon.

Rory Culkin, Trevor Morgan,Joshua Peck, Carly Schroeder, Ryan Kelly and Scott Mechlowicz star in thepicture, which was produced by Rick Rosenthal, Susan Johnson and Hagai Shaham.

"Jacob Aaron Estes is a raretalent who's managed to capture the essence of day-to-day teenage life onscreen with a talented group of young actors," Basner said in a statement.

"His exemplary writing andsure-handed direction has resulted in a feature that truly engages."

"Focus clearly respectsfilm-makers and we are delighted to have found a home for Mean Creek withthem," Whitewater Films' Rosenthal said."We're extremely proud of our cast and applaud Jacob's directorial debut."

Whitewater Films is headedup by Rosenthal and Susan Johnson, who are preparing their second feature, thecoming-of-age story Nearing Grace.Rosenthal will direct, Johnson will co-produce and Killer Films will executive produce the film which is based on Estes' adaptation ofScott Sommer's novel.

Paramount Classics boughtthe rights to Mean Creek forNorth America, the UK and Australia shortly after it played in the AmericanSpectrum section at Sundance.