Universal Pictures has completed its acquisition of rights in Germany, Japan and South Africa to Robert Altman's Academy Award-winning Gosford Park from Capitol Films.

USA Films, now ironically again a part of the Vivendi Universal media empire, had domestic rights to Gosford Park and grossed over $40m from it.

Other distributors to which Gosford Park was sold include Entertainment in the UK and Icon in Australia. The film earned seven Oscar nominations including picture, director and two for supporting actress but won in only one category - for Julian Fellowes' original screenplay.

The film will be released in the Germany, Japan and South Africa by UIP for Universal.