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Posted: Thurs., Dec. 1, 2005, 9:00pm PT

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New Yorker in the 'Zone'

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By IAN MOHR

Natalie Portman plays an American living in Jerusalem in 'Free Zone,' picked up by New Yorker.

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Indie distributor New Yorker Films has picked up all domestic rights to Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai's "Free Zone," starring Natalie Portman, from BAC Films Intl.

Pic follows Portman as an American living in Jerusalem who meets two women -- an Israeli and a Palestinian -- and becomes a temporary traveling companion with them in a remote area of Jordan.

Pic will bow April 7 through New Yorker in Gotham, followed by a national release.

Deal was unveiled as "Zone" makes its preem in Gotham this week.

Pic, which screened in Cannes earlier this year, was produced by Nicolas Blanc, Michael Tapuach and Laurent Truchot. Gitai penned the screenplay with Marie Jose Sanselme.

New Yorker's slate includes the current docu release "After Innocence," by Jessica Sanders.