Summit Entertainment hasacquired international distribution rights to Norman Jewison's nextpicture The Statement starringMichael Caine, Jeremy Northam and Tilda Swinton. Sony Pictures Classics (SPC)has domestic rights to the film.

Set to start shooting in Europeon March 17, The Statement isbased on Brian Moore's novel and was scripted by Ronald Harwood, who hasbeen winning awards for his recent adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman'smemoirs The Pianist. Caine playsa man who was once a Nazi executioner but now lives a peaceful life, hisidentity protected by right-wing power-players including the Catholic Church.But when his case is reopened, he is suddenly put at risk of exposure andbecomes the object of pursuit by hit men and police investigators.

Canada's Robert Lantosis producing the film - his recent credits include Ararat, Stardomand Sunshine - through hisSerendipity Point Films and Summit is representing the film at AFM through ISFilm Distribution, its sales joint venture with Intermedia. IS will sell allterritories excluding those already taken by SPC as part of the initialdomestic deal.

The film sees Caine andJewison work together for the first time. Jewison hasn't been behind thecamera since 1999's The Hurricane which starred Denzel Washington; Caine who has won acclaim for hisleading role in The Quiet American has already completed other roles in TheActors and Secondhand Lions. Northam's recent credits include TheSinging Detective and Possession,while Swinton, who will play a Nazi hunter in the film, has finished YoungAdam with Ewan McGregor.

Summit, headed by PatrickWachsberger, is one of the leading sales and financing independents in the businessand recently strengthened its position by its IS alliance with Intermedia. Inaddition to the Jewison picture, Wachsberger is overseeing sales of OliverStone's Alexander, DeanParisot's Me Again withBruce Willis and Walden Media's Around The World In 80 Days starring Jackie Chan.