Pair of preems get pre-fest deals

SPC nabs 'Jindabyne,' TWC grabs 'Shut Up'

By IAN MOHR

'Jindabyne,' starring Gabriel Byrne, has a date with Toronto.

On the same day the Toronto film fest unveiled its full lineup Tuesday, two pics set to preem scored distribution deals: The Weinstein Co. grabbed the docu "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing," while Sony Pictures Classics took North American rights to "Jindabyne," starring Laura Linney and Gabriel Byrne.

TWC acquired world rights to "Shut Up," directed by "Harlan County USA" helmer Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck.

Pic is the first U.S. docu ever to nab a gala slot at Toronto. TWC will roll it out this fall.

Docu follows the female country music trio over three years while the band was under fire for publicly criticizing George Bush in 2003.

Kopple and Peck produced via the Cabin Creek Films shingle, and pic was sold off through CAA and Dixie music manager Simon Renshaw.

Meantime, "Lantana" helmer Ray Lawrence's third pic, "Jindabyne," is based on Raymond Carver's short story "So Much Water So Close to Home."

Pic -- to make its North American preem in Toronto -- centers on four men on a fishing holiday who discover a corpse in a river.

Pic screened at Cannes this year as part of the Directors' Fortnight section.

Distrib Roadshow has "Jindabyne" in its native Oz.

Pic was sold off by April Films, the banner headed by the project's exec producers Garry Charny and Philippa Bateman. Beatrix Christian adapted the screenplay; Catherine Jarman produced.