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Lionsgate heads to 'Woods'

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By JOHN HOPEWELL

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Lionsgate has picked up North American rights to Gary Oldman starrer "The Backwoods."

English-language thriller, the feature debut of Spanish helmer Koldo Serra, is set in Basque country in 1978. Two young couples on vacation stumble on a deformed girl in a cabin and, in a tale of mounting violence, anger local villagers when they try to help her.

Virginie Ledoyen, Paddy Considine, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon and Lluis Homar also star. Pic's co-produced by up-and-coming Spanish producer Monfort Prods.; Castelao Prods.; Filmax Entertainment's feature production arm, Divine Prods.; Holy Cow Films; and Videntia Frames Prods.

In its drive to become a specialist in horror fare, Lionsgate has bought U.S. rights to more than a dozen films from Filmax, Spain's top horror shingle, in a relationship that dates back to 2000, when Lionsgate closed Stateside distribution on a four-pic package of "Arachnid," "Dagon," Faust" and "Beyond Re-Animator."