LightningEntertainment has acquired international sales rights to ThomFitzgerald's The Event, which will screen in the Panorama section of the Berlin FilmFestival on Feb 8, 9 and 10. Set in Manhattan, The Event explores the effect of one man'sdeath on his loved ones and boasts a strong ensemble cast that includes ParkerPosey, Olympia Dukakis, Sarah Polley and Don McKellar. The picture will bereleased in North America in the second half of the year through THINKFilm,which financed the film. It had its world premiere screening as a premiere atthe Sundance Film Festival last month.

'RichGoldberg [Lightning principal] and I read the screenplay last year and weremoved by the emotion and power of the story,' Lightning president RichardS Guardian said in a statement. 'Thom's film truly delivers on thescript's promises and its universal themes make it accessible to a verywide audience.'

Fitzgerald'swork includes the 1997 award-winning romance-drama The Hanging Garden, Beefcake and USA Networks TV movie Wolf Girl.

Lightninglaunched in Feb 2002 and has handled films including hit documentary StandingIn The Shadows Of Motownand the drama American Gun starring James Coburn.