Hot Topics:

Phase 4 toons in

Snaps up rights to Antonio Banderas cartoon production

'Prophet' grabs six European Film nods

Sony eyes 'Agora' for U.S. distribution

AFM buyers proceed with caution

Case Study: Summit Entertainment

'New Moon' shines at box office(8026 views)

'New Moon' takes opening day record(1398 views)

Weitz digs 'Gardener'(935 views)

Oprah gets steamy with HBO(735 views)

ABC adopts 'Find My Family' show(664 views)

Few frontrunners for revamped Oscars(654 views)

Barry Meyerowitz's upstart North American distributor Phase 4 Films has taken all U.S. rights to Spanish toon pic "The Missing Lynx: Paws on the Run," godfathered and co-produced by Antonio Banderas.

Deal was closed by Madrid-based internatinal sales company 6 Sales.

"Lynx" will go out Stateside on DVD -- Phase 4's core biz -- in March-April. Pic is already playing in L.A. at the Laemmle. Bow is aimed at scoring an Academy Award nomination, said Jennifer Ansley, Phase 4 Films marketing VP.

The eco-friendly pic has become one of Spain's most widely sold films. Recent sales include France (FIP), Benelux (RCV), Germany (More Films), Australia (Horizon) and Portugal (MPA).

Of major territories, only Scandinavia, Italy and the U.K. are pending, said 6 Sales head Marina Fuentes.

6 Sales will be screening a promo of psychological thriller "Locked In," starring Ben Barnes ("The Narnia Chronicles: Prince Caspian") and talking up "Cold Skin," which director David Slade will move onto, foreseeably in January, after finishing post-production on "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse," Fuentes said.