French smash LesChoristes has beenselected to close the 28th Montreal World Film Festival, August 26 to September6. The post-war period film, which has drawn 6.7 million admissions over its16-week run at the French box office, will screen as part of the closing nightgala celebration.

Directed byChristophe Barratier and written by Barratier and Philippe Lopes-Curval, thefilm tells the story of a music teacher (Gerard Jugnot) who finds a job as asupervisor in a correctional boarding school for minors. Stunned by the harshreality of the school's routine, he sets out to change the pupils' lives byacquainting them with the magic and power of music.

The film isproduced by Jacques Perrin, Arthur Cohn, Galatee Films and Pathe. The film willopen commercially in Quebec in the autumn through Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm,which acquired the film through its ongoing sub-distribution pact with Miramax.Miramax acquired multiple-territory rights, including North America, at theEuropean Film Market in Berlin.