THINKFilm has acquired North American rights to TheTrials Of Darryl Hunt, which has just beennamed one of 15 documentaries on the Academy Awards shortlist. The distributorwill handle the film in association with HBO Documentary Films.

THINKFilm says it has now handled ten documentaries infive years that have made the shortlist.

Theatrical chief Mark Urman plans a limited release nextyear on Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg's film about Hunt's wrongful arrest and convictionon rape and murder charges.

The Trials Of Darryl Hunt premiered at Sundance and has garnered nearly 20 awards onthe festival circuit.

"It's been our dream to bring Darryl's story totheatres, and we are thrilled to be working with THINKFilm on therelease," the directors said. "We are so happy to be working with adistributor that understands how to harness the power of the real to compel andmove audiences."

THINKFilmprevious documentary releases include Born Into Brothels, Murderball, Spellbound, TheAgronomist, and Bus174.