peppermint, the worldwide distribution company that has recently undergone a management buy-out from Helkon Media AG, has acquired international distribution rights to The Guys, the film of Anne Nelson's hit play which deals with the aftermath of 9/11. The film, which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival yesterday, stars Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia and is one of the hot titles at the festival without domestic distribution yet attached.

The Guys is directed by Jim Simpson and tells the story of a NYC fire captain (LaPaglia) who teams up with a writer (Weaver) to write the eulogies of the eight firefighters in his station who died at the World Trade Center.

The play has been on stage since Dec 2001 in at the Flea Theater in New York, with cast members including Weaver, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins, Amy Irving, Susan Sarandon and Carol Kane.

Peppermint acquired the film from financier contentfilm which is headed by Edward R Pressman and John Schmidt. It was produced by Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente of Blow Up Pictures.