THINKFilm has acquired all North American rights to UK drama The Heart Of Me which world premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and which is the closing night presentation at the London Film Festival next month (Nov 21). Directed by Thaddeus O'Sullivan, the film stars Helena Bonham Carter, Paul Bettany and Olivia Williams.

THINKFilm, which plans to release the film next year, bought the film from Pandora, the LA-based finance and sales outfit which co-financed the film and handled worldwide distribution.

Set in London before, during and after the Second World War, The Heart Of Me is a love triangle story between a successful gentleman (Bettany), his wife (Williams) and her sister (Carter) with whom he has been conducting an affair. The film was produced by Martin Pope of Martin Pope Productions and scripted by Lucinda Coxon from the 1953 best-seller The Echoing Grove by Rosamond Lehmann. The book was widely believed to be based on her extended and tortured love affair with poet laureate C Day Lewis.

THINKFilm head of distribution Mark Urman and vice president of acquisitions and business affairs Randy Manis negotiated the deal wiith Shebnem Askin, executive vice president of worldwide sales at Pandora with Dana Ginsburg, executive vice president of business affairs.

The film was produced by BBC Films and Pandora in association with Take 3 and The Isle Of Man Film Commission. David Thompson, Tracey Schoffield, Steve Christian, Keith Evans, Paul Federbush (formerly of Pandora) and Askin were the executive producers.

The sale is another triumph for BBC Films which has enjoyed a string of successes of late including Iris, Dirty Pretty Things, Sweet Sixteen and Morvern Callar. Upcoming titles include Metin Huseyin's Anita And Me, Michael Winterbottom's M118751 and Christine Jeffs' Ted And Sylvia to star Gwyneth Paltrow and Daniel Craig.