Capitol waltzes with int'l 'Dancing' rights

By ADAM DAWTREY

LONDON --- Capitol Films, the London-based sales company, has picked up international rights to "Dancing at Lughnasa," which stars Meryl Streep and started shooting last week in Ireland.

Capitol came on board to complete the financing of the $15 million project after the original foreign sales agent Pandora Cinema dropped out at the last minute. Sony Pictures Classics has pre-bought North American rights, and Channel 4 is taking U.K. rights.

The pic is based on Brian Friel's hit play set in 1936 about five unmarried Irish sisters from a close-knit Catholic family, and the events that change their lives over the course of a summer.

Alongside Streep, it stars Kathy Burke, who won the best actress prize at this year's Cannes film fest, Catherine McCormack, Sophie Thompson and Michael Gambon.

Pat O'Connor ("Circle of Friends") is directing, and the screen adaptation is by Frank McGuinness. The producer is Noel Pearson ("My Left Foot").