LionsGate Films has bought all North American rights to Lars Von Trier's criticallyacclaimed drama Dogville, starring Oscar winner Nicole Kidman.

TomOrtenberg, president of Lions Gate Films Releasing, Peter Block, president of home entertainment, acquisitionsand new media, and Jason Constantine, vice president of acquisitions,negotiated the deal on behalf of Lions Gate.

AnnakarinStrom, chief executive officer of Trust Films and Kasper Soager, manager oflegal and business affairs, negotiated for Trust Films.

InDogville Kidman plays a secretive stranger who arrives in a small 1930sRockies town seeking refuge from gangsters. Lauren Bacall, Paul Bettany and BenGazzara also star.

"LarsVon Trier has crafted a brilliant, thought-provoking parable about tolerance, greed, trust and power, featuringa shattering performance by Nicole Kidman," Ortenberg said in a statement.

Thefilm is the first of a trilogy called US And A, a series of films set inAmerica. Dogville received its world premiere earlier this week when itscreened during the In Competition strand at Cannes.

VonTrier won the Palme d'Or in 2000 with Dancer In The Dark. This is hisseventh year in competition.