Magna Pacific has acquiredAustralian and New Zealand rights to Oscar-winning director Robert Altman's A Prairie Home Companion from CapitolFilms.

The company plans to releasethe film in September 2007, joining a theatrical line-up that includes Perfect Creature, August Rush, Lonely Hearts,Penelope, Renaissance, The AstronautFarmer and Because I Said So.

"Prairie will emulate Robert Altman's last film Gosford Park and will drive attendance and have a long run inAustralian cinemas," said Magna Pacific executive chair Leon Coningham.

Magna Pacific has a stronghome entertainment business with over 3,000 titles in its catalogue includingcontemporary and classic titles, arthouse films and children's movies.

A Prairie Home Companion dramatises the backstage shenanigans during the lastbroadcast of America's most celebrated radio show and features a cast of familiar facesincluding Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, Kevin Klein, LindsayLohan, Tommy Lee Jones and Virginia Madsen.