Rob Straight's Vancouver-based Horizon Entertainment has signed a dealwith Randy Purcell's Stadium Entertainment under which the partners will bringfour to six new pictures to world markets in 2006.

The alliance will announce in due course their upcoming roster of English-languagetitles and promise pictures with worldwide appeal, name cast and globallyrecognisable directors.

Horizon will exclusively handle worldwide sales on the upcomingslate, and brings to AFM its own roster that includes vintage titles from Japan'sDaiei library through its partnership with Kadokawa Herald Pictures, and newpictures like Takashi Miike's Venice and Toronto selection The Great GoblinWar.

Purcell set up the Vancouver-based acquisition, development andfinancing company Stadium after selling his internet software company Top Producerto Homestore.com for $42m in 2000. He inititally moved into films by setting upJEM Pictures.

"We are definitely pleased with the new relationship and lookforward to working with Randy and his staff at Stadium," Straight said. "It isexciting that Horizon's 10th anniversary will be marked by the introduction ofstrong new independent films to the world market."

"We are excited to be working with Horizon's seasoned team,"Purcell added. "We intend to acquire and finance quality films that deserve themarket's attention and we are confident Horizon can get the job done."