Skouras Films has picked upUS rights to Doug Sadler's award winning drama Swimmers and plans an early 2006 release in the majormarkets.

Since it launched at Sundance Swimmers has played at numerous festivals, winning the Seattle InternationalFilm Festival's grand jury prize award for best new American film.

Cherry Jones, Shawn Hatosy, Robert Knott, Michael Mosley, Sarah Paulson, andfeature newcomer Tara Devon Gallagher star in the story of an accident in asmall Maryland community that forces an 11-year-old child to question thenature of the adults around her.

Melanie Backer, David W Leitner, and Michael Yanko produced and John Manulis ofVisionBox Media negotiated the deal with Skouras chief Tom Skouras.

In a separate deal negotiated by Cinetic Media the Sundance Channel took pay TVrights.

"Every so often a special film comes along, one that grabs you and doesn't letgo until the last scene," Skouras said. "Swimmers is one of those pictures, and I'm thrilled to beworking with Doug Sadler on his original and inspiring film."

Consultant Kelly Neal will oversee the distribution and marketing inassociation with Skouras.