Bids are stacking up for the prestigious U.S. distribution rights to Sunshine, the Ralph Fiennes flick with a strong Canadian contingent. But some buyers have expressed concerns about the film's length -- three hours, to be exact -- which in economic terms means fewer booking times at theatres.
"The movie is a beautiful, sweeping epic," said one buyer who did not want to be named. "But length is a big issue."
One rumoured bidder is Fine Line Features, a division of media giant Time Warner Inc., which has already purchased U.S. rights for Jeremy Podeswa's The Five Senses at this year's festival.
Sunshine was produced, in part, by Robert Lantos, the former chairman of Alliance Communications Corp., before the company merged with Atlantis Communications Inc. last year. As well, the new Alliance Atlantis Pictures is one of the four production companies behind the film, along with ones in Hungary, Germany and Austria.
Sunshine's producers are said to be anxious to have the film released before year's end, feeling confident it will receive a number of Academy Award nominations, including possibly best actor for Fiennes.
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