In two significant pre-Toronto acquisitions, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired US, Australasian and Scandinavian rights from Pathe International to Christophe Barratier's Paris 36 (Faubourg 36) while THINKFilm has acquired North American rights to Michael Winterbottom's Genova.

Paris 36, follow-up to Barratier's feted 2004 release Les Choristes (The Choir), is set to receive its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival on Aug 21 followed by a Sept 6 screening as a special presentation at the Toronto International Film festival next month and is produced by Jacques Perrin and Nicolas Mauvernay.

Gerard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad, Pierre Richard and newcomer Nora Arnezeder star in the story of stage workers in 1936 who lose their jobs and put on their own show. Muriel Sauzay and Mike Runagall negotiated the deal for Pathe International. Pathe Distribution will release the film in France on September 24.

Genova will also screen as a special presentation and centres on a man who moves his two daughters to Italy to start a new life after his wife is killed in a car accident. Shortly after their arrival the younger girl begins to see the ghost of her mother as the older daughter discovers her own sexuality.

Colin Firth, Hope Davis, Catherine Keener and newcomers Willa Holland and Perla Haney-Jardine star. Andrew Eaton produced for Eaton and Winterbottom's Revolution Films and Genova was co-financed by Film4, the UK Film Council and Aramid Entertainment. THINKFilm brokered the deal with sales agent Hanway Films.

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