'The White Ribbon'
In a u-turn from its sluggish acquisitions activity at Cannes last year, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American rights to Michael Haneke's buzzed-about Competish pic "The White Ribbon" before this year's fest has even started.
Move is most notable for its timing, given that SPC execs left last year's event without announcing a single acquisition. They eventually picked up 2008 Competition titles such as Ari Folman's "Waltz With Bashir," Charlie Kaufman's "Synecdoche, New York" and Laurent Cantet's Palme d'Or-winner "The Class."
This is the fifth time Austrian helmer Haneke is competing for the Palme d'Or.
SPC also handled U.S. distribution on Haneke's 2005 Cannes Competition pic "Cache."
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