Hopscotch has acquired all Australian and New Zealand rights for Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911, making it one of the first English language distributors to officially board the new documentary.

Moore has already begun to examine the history of anti-American terrorism, trace the business dealings between the Bush and bin Laden families, and question the way the Bush administration is profiting politically from the events of September 11, 2001.

"I'm sure the film will be extraordinarily controversial but also satirical and entertaining," said Hopscotch principal Troy Lum (pictured). He was one of about 25 distributors addressed by Moore at Cannes via satellite and was "his own worst enemy" on the price because of his enthusiasm about the level of business the new project could do in his territories.

"Bowling For Columbine has now grossed $3.2m (A$4.8m) just in Australia. This is an extraordinary result and one of the best pro rata results in the world. I also believe we have out-grossed the UK dollar for dollar. We believe in what he has to say and had to be part of the next film."

Hopscotch also picked up My House In Umbria from HBO, Twin Sister from Cinepol and The Barbarian Invasions from Flach Pyramide while at Cannes.

During its first year in existence it has grossed over $4m (A$6m) with just three titles, the others being Nowhere In Africa $625,000 (A$950,000) and Standing In The Shadows Of Mowtown $197,000 (A$300,000). Lum says this makes the distributor Australia's leading independent.

Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress recently launched and the slate also includes Travelling Birds, Together, Raising Victor Vargas and the Australian films Peaches, A Man's Gotta Do and More Than Scarlett.