HanWay Films has beenappointed to represent the worldwide rights to the Merchant Ivory library offilms.

HanWay is now selling 21 ofJames Ivory and Ismail Merchant's features including Howards End, Heat AndDust, Maurice, Bombay Talkie, Shakespeare Wallah, The Europeans andThe Mystic Masseur. All titleshave been fully re-mastered by James Ivory and will now be available for thefirst time in many territories.

The deal also coversnumerous short films, some unseen, including Ivory's graduation film Venice:Theme and Variations, and Merchant'sOscar-nominated The Creation of Woman.

"We could not be moredelighted to have secured the Merchant Ivory library," said Tim Haslam,CEO of HanWay Films. "This is a very important catalogue of filmswhich are recognised and admired around the world for their quality and brand."

Added Paul Bradley, CEO ofMerchant Ivory Productions: "Both Merchant Ivory and Hanway are vastlyexperienced independent operators and are perfectly attuned to maximise theabundant new sales opportunities arising in the market. We share anunderstanding born out of ambitious independent film making."

HanWay already has therights to other libraries such as Recorded Picture Company's titles including TheLast Emperor, the Wim Wenderslibrary and the Blues Library with films such as Match Point and The Dreamers.