Neil Friedman's Menemsha Entertainment has acquired worldwide distribution rights to five new international pictures, furthering the company's ambitions to become a prolific seller of foreign-language and independent film from around the world. To date, Friedman has handled hit festival titles including Train De Vie, Color Of Paradise and The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg.

The titles, all playing in the current Toronto International Film Festival, are:

  • Angels Of The Universe (Iceland), Fridrik Thor Fridriksson's hit adaptation of the local bestseller by Einar Mar Gudmundsson about his schizophrenic brother.
  • One Week (US), a debut feature from Carl Seaton about an African American man waiting one week to find out whether or not he has been diagnosed with the HIV virus. It stars Kenny Young and Saadiqa Muhammad.
  • Smell Of Camphor, Fragrance Of Jasmine (Iran), a semi-autobiographical story from director Bahman Farmanara, which recently won the Special Jury Prize at the Montreal Film Festival.
  • Werckmeister Harmonies (Hungary), Bela Tarr's latest epic set in a small Hungarian village which is invaded by a travelling circus. Lars Rudolph and Hanna Schygulla star.
  • The Young Unknowns (US), a debut feature by Catherine Jelski about young rich twentysomethings stung by ennui and bitterness in contemporary Los Angeles. Devon Gummersall and Arly Jover star.

    • Menemsha is also representing domestic rights on another Icelandic film 101 Reykjavik, the much-praised directorial debut of Baltasar Kormakur starring Victoria Abril and Hilmir Snaer.