UK distributor Soda Pictures has picked up UK rights to Guy Maddin's The Saddest Music In The World and Damian Kozole's Spare Parts.

Maddin's film, which made its North American premiere at Toronto earlier this year, stars Isabella Rossellini as a legless beer baroness who holds a worldwide contest to perform the saddest music in the world. It had a strong reception at the Times bfi London Film Festival, which wrapped earlier this month.

Eve Gabereau, joint-managing director of Soda Pictures, negotiated the deal for the film with Sheena Macdonald, president of Toronto-based sales company Rhombus International.

"I am so pleased that Soda has popped into the picture as our UK distributor," said director Maddin in a statement. "I'm sure their sparkling approach to film distribution will quench the thirst of the lipsmacking cineaste UK audiences."

Soda has also picked up Damian Kozole's Spare Parts, from Berlin-based sales agent MDC International. The Slovenian film about the trafficking of illegal immigrants premiered at Berlin earlier this year.

And as previously announced on ScreenDaily.com, Soda also recently picked up Christoffer Boe's acclaimed urban love story Reconstruction, this year's Danish Oscar submission.

"Soda had been watching The Saddest Music In The World and Reconstruction since their respective festival premieres," said Edward Fletcher, joint MD of Soda Pictures, "and the enthusiasm of the London festival audience confirmed that these are two very enjoyable, innovative and exciting films."

Soda Pictures plans to release both films in the first half of 2004.

Formed in 2002 by Gabereau and Fletcher, Soda's forthcoming release schedule includes Dai Sijie's Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress, Pablo Trapero's El Bonaerense and Alexander Rogozhkin's The Cuckoo.