Strand lands 'Friends'

Distrib pacts with Les Films du Losange for pic

By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK

Strand Releasing has picked up U.S. distrib rights to Emmanuel Bourdieu's "Poison Friends" ("Les Amities Malefiques"), which has won a slot at the upcoming New York Film Festival.

Strand, which is eying a Spring release, struck the deal with Les Films du Losange.

Film -- Bourdieu's second -- follows a circle of college intellectuals who are duped by a seductive and charming pathological liar.

In May, "Poison" picked up the Critics Week grand prize at Cannes.

Bourdieu, son of acclaimed sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, previously wrote for helmer Arnaud Desplechin, co-writing the screenplays for "Esther Kahn" and "My Sex Life or How I Got Into an Argument." Bourdieu made his directorial debut with "Vert Paradis."

Les Films du Losange's Daniela Elstner and Strand's Jon Gerrans negotiated the deal.

Strand is currently in release with Francois Ozon's "Time to Leave" and Fatih Akin's "Crossing the Bridge."